You'd think that after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, the numbers would just crater. That's the logical assumption, right? If you ban something in half the country, the total count should go down. But the reality is actually the opposite. Honestly, the data coming out of 2024 and early 2025 is kind of shocking to people on both sides of the debate.
Instead of a decline, we are seeing the highest numbers in over a decade.
According to the latest data from the Society for Family Planning’s #WeCount project and the Guttmacher Institute, there were an estimated 1,142,970 abortions in the US in 2024. That is a significant jump from the 1,060,000 recorded in 2023. Even more surprising? The first half of 2025 has already seen nearly 600,000 procedures.
If this pace keeps up, the answer to how many abortions a year in the US is going to continue climbing, even as state-level bans get stricter.
The Numbers Nobody Expected
Basically, the "post-Roe" era hasn't played out like a simple math equation. You can't just subtract the states with bans and expect the total to drop.
In 2020, the Guttmacher Institute reported about 930,160 abortions. By 2023, that number had cleared the million mark. In 2024, it hit 1.14 million. We're talking about an 8% increase in just one year, and a nearly 23% increase since 2020.
Why is this happening?
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It’s not one single thing. It’s a combination of telehealth, "shield laws," and an massive surge in interstate travel. When clinics closed in states like Texas or Mississippi, people didn't just stop seeking care. They started moving. Or they started logging on.
The Telehealth Explosion
If you want to understand the modern landscape, you have to look at the mail. Telehealth has completely rewired the system. In 2022, only about 5% of abortions were done via telehealth. By the end of 2024, that number hit 25%.
One in every four abortions in America is now facilitated by a virtual clinic.
This is where "shield laws" come in. Several states, including Massachusetts and New York, passed laws to protect their doctors who mail pills to people living in states where abortion is totally banned. In the last three months of 2024 alone, over 70,000 abortions were performed via telehealth. For someone in a rural part of a restrictive state, a package in the mail is often the only realistic option left.
Where the Care Is Happening Now
The geography has shifted dramatically. While 14 states had near-total bans in effect by mid-2024, the "surge states"—those bordering banned areas—saw their numbers skyrocket.
- Illinois: This state has become the primary hub for the Midwest and South. In 2024, roughly 35,500 people traveled to Illinois for an abortion, making up nearly 40% of all procedures in the state.
- Kansas: Despite its own internal political battles, Kansas remains a critical access point. About 71% of the people getting abortions in Kansas are actually from out of state.
- New Mexico: Similar story here, with 69% of patients traveling from elsewhere, mostly Texas.
It’s expensive to travel. You have to think about gas, hotels, and time off work. Isaac Maddow-Zimet, a data scientist at Guttmacher, noted that while the national numbers are up, these figures "cannot capture the obstacles" that people face. Just because the total number is higher doesn't mean it’s easier for everyone.
The Shift in Methods
Medication abortion—the "abortion pill"—is now the standard. In 2023, it accounted for 63% of all US abortions. By 2025, that percentage is trending even higher.
It’s cheaper. It’s more private.
It’s also harder for authorities to track.
Who Is Seeking Care?
The demographics haven't changed as much as the legal map has. Data from the KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation) shows that women in their 20s still account for about 57% of all abortions.
Most are already parents.
In fact, about 55% of people who had an abortion in recent years already had at least one child. They aren't just "young kids"; they are often parents making financial or health-related decisions for their existing families. Poverty also plays a massive role. About 41% of patients are below the federal poverty level.
What This Means for the Future
The question of how many abortions a year in the US is no longer just about clinical visits. It's about a decentralized network of mail-order pills and cross-country road trips.
States like Florida have recently implemented six-week bans, which led to an immediate drop of over 11,000 procedures in that state alone in 2024. But those numbers didn't vanish; they largely moved to North Carolina, Virginia, or onto the internet.
The data suggests a "whack-a-mole" effect. When one access point closes, three more—often digital—open up or expand.
Practical Steps for Navigating the Current Data
If you are looking for the most accurate, up-to-the-minute statistics, don't rely on the CDC alone. The CDC's Abortion Surveillance System is voluntary and usually runs about two years behind. For example, their 2022 data wasn't even released until late 2024.
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- Check the #WeCount Report: This is the most current source, updated quarterly by the Society of Family Planning. They track real-time shifts in telehealth and shield law usage.
- Look at the Guttmacher Monthly Abortion Provision Study: This provides state-level breakdowns that show exactly where people are traveling.
- Distinguish between "clinician-provided" and "self-managed": Most official stats only count what happens through a legal provider. They often miss people ordering pills from international sources or community networks.
The landscape is moving fast. What was true in 2022 is ancient history in 2026. The only constant is that despite the legal barriers, the demand and the actual number of procedures are currently at a 15-year high.