Key Figures for 2018
In 2018, the United States recorded an estimated 862,000 abortions according to the most comprehensive available analysis of reporting data from that year. This represents a continuation of long-term declines from early-2000s levels and reflects a convergence of behavioral, contraceptive, and policy influences. The following provides definitions, source context, and trend comparisons to clarify how this figure is derived and what it signals about abortion incidence in the U.S.
Defining the Metric
What Counts as an Abortion
An abortion is the termination of a pregnancy before fetal viability or before the pregnancy is completed. Data typically cover induced abortions reported to state health departments or compiled by research groups from facility records, surveys, and estimates. Metrics may distinguish by procedure type, gestation, and reporting jurisdiction but the core figure tracks pregnancy terminations.
Why Estimates Are Used
Not all providers report to all states, and not all states report every year with complete coverage. Consequently, organizations compile estimates using statistical models, survey data, and known facility counts. These estimates are adjusted for underreporting and are treated as the best available indicator rather than a raw census.
Primary Data Sources
The leading source for U.S. abortion trends is the Guttmacher Institute, which aggregates state reports and publishes national estimates when state data lag or are incomplete. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also collects reports, but coverage varies and CDC lags reporting timelines by multiple years. For 2018, the most frequently cited count comes from Guttmacher's 2020 analysis, reflecting the best available picture as of that reporting cycle.
| Metric | Verified Detail | Source Type |
|---|---|---|
| Estimated U.S. abortions in 2018 | Approximately 862,000 | Guttmacher Institute analysis |
| Reported years for national totals | 2014 (926,200); 2017 (862,320) | Guttmacher Institute periodic reports |
| CDC reported abortions | Lower counts due to reporting gaps; 2016 data used for trend context | CDC abortion surveillance |
| Gestational distribution | Majority occur before 13 weeks; later procedures are less common but shape policy debates | Guttmacher facility procedure data |
Contextual Trends
Long-Term Decline
The 2018 estimate continues a multi-decade downward trend from peaks in the early 1990s, reflecting increased contraceptive use, delayed childbearing, and reduced pregnancy rates overall. Despite declines in incidence, the U.S. remains above many peer nations in per-capita abortion rates, shaped by variation in insurance coverage, clinic availability, and legal contexts at state and federal levels.
State-Level Variation
Abortion rates per 1,000 women of reproductive age vary widely across states due to geography, clinic concentration, demographic profiles, and policy environments. Some states report sharp declines following regulation changes, while others remain relatively stable. This variation underscores why national aggregates capture an important baseline, but local dynamics require state-specific data.
Methodological Notes
How Estimates Are Derived
Guttmacher combines state reports, sample data from providers that do not report, and modeling to account for nonreporting. They publish uncertainty ranges and adjust for expected undercount. CDC numbers rely on mandatory state reporting, so they are typically lower and subject to year-to-year fluctuations due to reporting completeness rather than true changes in occurrence.
Limitations and Delays
Final 2018 data may be revised as states complete reporting; early analyses sometimes differ from final counts. Policy discussions may cite different figures depending on whether they use CDC or Guttmacher data. Understanding the source and methodology helps interpret differences and avoid conflating definitions.
Why the 2018 Figure Remains Relevant
Though more recent years now report higher numbers in some states, 2018 serves as a benchmark for comparing long-term trends, evaluating interventions that affect contraceptive access, and assessing how shifts in clinic availability affect service delivery. It reflects conditions before major legal changes that began to reshape clinic operations in several states in the following years.