logo

Have the majority of women who get abortions previously given birth?

By Tom Kertscher
YES

In 2021, 60.7% of abortions in the U.S. were performed on females who had previously given birth, according to the latest annual figures from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In 2020, the figure was 60.9%.

The 2021 report, released in November 2023, included data from 41 states plus New York City. Wisconsin was among states that did not submit or properly submit data, the report said.

Overall, the majority of 2021 abortions were obtained by women who were in their twenties, low-income and women of color.

Vice President Kamala Harris, campaigning Jan. 22 in suburban Milwaukee, said "the majority of women who have abortions are mothers."

Republican state lawmakers introduced a bill Jan. 19 that would put a referendum on the April 2 ballots in Wisconsin. It would ask voters to generally ban abortion after 14 weeks of pregnancy, down from the current 20 weeks.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTOR
Wisconsin Watch, the news arm of the nonpartisan, nonprofit Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism, increases the quality and quantity of investigative reporting in Wisconsin, while training current and future investigative journalists. Its work fosters an informed citizenry and strengthens democracy.
FACT BRIEF BY
facebook
twitter
email
email