Note: Percentages might not add to 100% because of rounding. For Alabama, Arkansas, South Carolina, and Texas, two weeks were added to the probable postfertilization age to provide a corresponding measure to gestational age based on the clinician’s estimate. New York represents data from New York City only. Data unavailable for California, Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Washington, DC.
In 2021, just under half (44.8%) of reported abortions occurred within the first six weeks of pregnancy. Another 36.0% happened between seven and nine weeks, and 12.7% within 10 and 13 weeks. Put another way, 93.5% of reported abortions were performed before two and a half months of pregnancy.
Farther into pregnancy, abortions are less common. Of the remaining 6.5% of reported abortions, 2.7% occurred between 14 and 15 weeks, 1.5% at 16 to 17 weeks, 1.5% at 18 to 20 weeks, and 0.9% at 21 weeks or more.
All states except Missouri reported that most abortions occurred within the first 9 weeks of gestation. In 19 states, most abortions occurred at six weeks or less; in another 21, most abortions occurred between seven and nine weeks into pregnancy.
In 2021, Missouri was the only state where most reported abortions (23.3%) happened at 21 weeks or later, or around five months. Missouri banned elective abortions in 2022.
Why is data missing from some states?
This data comes from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and includes data from 41 reporting areas. Data is not available from California, Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York State (except New York City), Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Washington, DC. Those reporting areas did not report at all, did not report by gestational age, or did not meet reporting standards. Reporting is voluntary.
Would be cool if this also showed the laws around abortion in each state.
This is the one of the top line elements we (the public) should get at the beginning of any political debate on abortion.
But no, it’s just a bunch of unserious theatre.
Anyway, nice graph.
You mean to tell me that most women don’t stay pregnant purposely for 30+ weeks just to get a late term abortion for funsies? No way.
What’s the deal with Missouri!?
What are we considering an abortion and what is know weeks of gestation? 6 weeks pregnant is most likely only 2 weeks known or maybe not at all.
For reference, fetal viability is widely accepted to occur around the 24 week mark. Only ~5% of babies born before week 23 survive, even with medical intervention.
To add some more data, according to NPR there were 1,026,700 in the US in 2023. For example there were over 9,000 abortions that were over 21 weeks, 15,000 abortions at 18-20 weeks. My point is that we always hear that late term abortions are “rare” which is percentage accurate. However if you struggle if a fetus crosses over to a person at some point in later pregnancy, the numbers are troublesome. If you do not struggle with a fetus having the possibility of being a person during the entire pregnancy then it is very easy to be OK with these numbers/percentages.
Do the data from New York City and New York State overlap well? Or is there a discrepancy between the city and the state? It’s weird to only include NYC and not mention the whole state.
![How far into pregnancy do most abortions occur in the US? [OC]](https://www.europesays.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/hc500yikmw0e1-1920x1024.png)
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Source: [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention](https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/72/ss/ss7209a1.htm)
Tools: Datawrapper, Illustrator
Note: Percentages might not add to 100% because of rounding. For Alabama, Arkansas, South Carolina, and Texas, two weeks were added to the probable postfertilization age to provide a corresponding measure to gestational age based on the clinician’s estimate. New York represents data from New York City only. Data unavailable for California, Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Washington, DC.
This is a slightly updated [repost](https://www.reddit.com/r/dataisbeautiful/comments/1gr9mh4/how_far_into_pregnancy_do_most_abortions_occur_in/) with some color changes to Missouri and the corresponding pie chart slice. Thanks to u/CPOx, u/lelduderino, u/DeerAndBeer, and other for the feedback. There might still be some accessibility issues in the pie chart, so hopefully the labels clear up any confusion there.
In 2021, just under half (44.8%) of reported abortions occurred within the first six weeks of pregnancy. Another 36.0% happened between seven and nine weeks, and 12.7% within 10 and 13 weeks. Put another way, 93.5% of reported abortions were performed before two and a half months of pregnancy.
Farther into pregnancy, abortions are less common. Of the remaining 6.5% of reported abortions, 2.7% occurred between 14 and 15 weeks, 1.5% at 16 to 17 weeks, 1.5% at 18 to 20 weeks, and 0.9% at 21 weeks or more.
All states except Missouri reported that most abortions occurred within the first 9 weeks of gestation. In 19 states, most abortions occurred at six weeks or less; in another 21, most abortions occurred between seven and nine weeks into pregnancy.
In 2021, Missouri was the only state where most reported abortions (23.3%) happened at 21 weeks or later, or around five months. Missouri banned elective abortions in 2022.
Why is data missing from some states?
This data comes from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and includes data from 41 reporting areas. Data is not available from California, Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York State (except New York City), Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Washington, DC. Those reporting areas did not report at all, did not report by gestational age, or did not meet reporting standards. Reporting is voluntary.
More data [here](https://usafacts.org/articles/how-far-into-pregnancy-do-most-abortions-happen/), [here](https://usafacts.org/articles/how-many-abortions-occur-in-the-us/), and [here](https://usafacts.org/articles/which-states-ban-the-abortion-pill/).
This should not be a pie chart.
Would be cool if this also showed the laws around abortion in each state.
This is the one of the top line elements we (the public) should get at the beginning of any political debate on abortion.
But no, it’s just a bunch of unserious theatre.
Anyway, nice graph.
You mean to tell me that most women don’t stay pregnant purposely for 30+ weeks just to get a late term abortion for funsies? No way.
What’s the deal with Missouri!?
What are we considering an abortion and what is know weeks of gestation? 6 weeks pregnant is most likely only 2 weeks known or maybe not at all.
For reference, fetal viability is widely accepted to occur around the 24 week mark. Only ~5% of babies born before week 23 survive, even with medical intervention.
To add some more data, according to NPR there were 1,026,700 in the US in 2023. For example there were over 9,000 abortions that were over 21 weeks, 15,000 abortions at 18-20 weeks. My point is that we always hear that late term abortions are “rare” which is percentage accurate. However if you struggle if a fetus crosses over to a person at some point in later pregnancy, the numbers are troublesome. If you do not struggle with a fetus having the possibility of being a person during the entire pregnancy then it is very easy to be OK with these numbers/percentages.
https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2024/03/19/1238293143/abortion-data-how-many-us-2023#:~:text=To%20be%20precise%2C%20researchers%20estimate,a%20data%20scientist%20with%20Guttmacher.
Do the data from New York City and New York State overlap well? Or is there a discrepancy between the city and the state? It’s weird to only include NYC and not mention the whole state.
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