In the past year, we have seen many states take advanced legislative action to ban abortions across the country. Fortunately, access has remained relatively stable in states that have not yet implemented increased restrictions. In 2024, approximately 1,038,100 abortions were provided nationwide, an increase of less than 1% from 2023, according to the Guttmacher Institute. Notably, abortions in states without total bans that were provided via online-only clinics rose to 14% in 2024, representing an increase of approximately 40,000 procedures.
However, this upward trend did not extend to states with strict legislative bans. Florida experienced a particularly sharp decline in the number of abortions provided after a six-week ban went into effect in May 2024. The state recorded 12,100 fewer abortions compared to 2023. South Carolina, which also enacted a six-week ban, saw 3,500 fewer abortions this year.
Colorado and New Mexico, where the right to abortion is protected, also saw slight declines in the number of procedures performed, with each state reporting around 2,400 fewer cases. However, abortion rates in these states remain significantly higher than they were prior to the 2022 overruling of Roe v. Wade.
With the rise of abortion bans across the country, many women now need to travel out of state to access abortion care. This is often due to the chilling effect of laws that make doctors fear criminal penalties for providing abortions. Still, the number of people who crossed state lines for abortion care slightly decreased from 2023, falling from 169,700 to 155,100. The states that absorbed the highest number of out-of-state patients remained consistent: Illinois, North Carolina, Kansas, and New Mexico.
Illinois plays a particularly critical role in abortion access. As a geographical midpoint between the South and Midwest, it is a highly accessible destination for many. The state government, along with local authorities, has provided substantial support to abortion providers and organizations. Notably, the Chicago Abortion Fund is partnering with the state to ensure that patients requiring complex care can receive support in hospitals.
Virginia has also seen an uptick in out-of-state abortion patients, largely due to Florida’s newly enacted six-week ban. Many individuals from southern states, who may have previously traveled to Florida for abortion care, are now turning to Virginia, currently the second closest state where abortions can be accessed beyond six weeks of pregnancy.
The implications of interstate travel for abortion patients are significant. Research shows that economic hardship is the primary reason many individuals seek abortions, indicating they are not financially equipped to raise a child. The burden of traveling hundreds of miles, finding a safe place to stay and recover, and covering the costs of abortion care, especially without health insurance, can be overwhelming. This is yet another reason why restricting access to abortion services often causes more harm than good.
Now, with the United States facing additional barriers to abortion access under a newly elected Trump administration that is openly committed to eliminating reproductive rights, the stakes are even higher. It is critical that advocates, lawmakers, and communities remain vigilant and continue working to protect access to safe, legal abortion care for the health, dignity, and autonomy of all individuals.
