CDC Releases 2018 Abortion Data

Last week, the Centers for Disease Control released its annual abortion surveillance report, covering the 2018 calendar year. The CDC reports that in 2018 there were 11.3 abortions per 1,000 women aged 15-44 years (the abortion rate) and 189 abortions per 1,000 live births (the abortion ratio). While this represents a 1% increase in the abortion rate and a 2% increase in the abortion ratio from 2017, the long-term trend has been positive. Since 2009, the abortion rate has decreased by 24% and the abortion ratio has decreased by 16%.

The CDC report also broke down abortion rates and ratios by state. Secular Pro-Life reports that the "best numbers came from Missouri, where a strong pro-life movement has closed down all but one abortion business." Missouri's abortion rate in 2018 was 2.5 abortions per 1,000 women aged 15-44 years and its abortion ratio was 40 abortions per 1,000 live births. While there is still much work to be done, the report is a reminder of the good work of the pro-life movement in the state and should serve as motivation to continue our work for unborn children and their mothers.