Views on abortion, 1995-2024
While public support for legal abortion has fluctuated somewhat in two decades of polling, it has remained relatively stable over the past several years. Currently, 63% say abortion should be legal in all or most cases, while 36% say it should be illegal in all or most cases.
| Year | Legal in all/most cases | Illegal in all/most cases |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 60% | 38% |
| 1996 | 57 | 40 |
| 1997 | — | — |
| 1998 | 54 | 42 |
| 1999 | 56 | 42 |
| 2000 | 53 | 43 |
| 2001 | 54 | 43 |
| 2002 | — | — |
| 2003 | 57 | 42 |
| 2004 | 55 | 43 |
| 2005 | 57 | 41 |
| 2006 | 51 | 43 |
| 2007 | 52 | 42 |
| 2008 | 54 | 40 |
| 2009 | 47 | 44 |
| 2010 | 50 | 44 |
| 2011 | 53 | 42 |
| 2012 | 54 | 39 |
| 2013 | 54 | 40 |
| 2014 | 55 | 40 |
| 2015 | 51 | 43 |
| 2016 | 57 | 39 |
| 2017 | 57 | 40 |
| 2018 | 58 | 37 |
| 2019 | 61 | 38 |
| 2020 | 60 | 38 |
| 2021 | 59 | 39 |
| March/April 2022 | 61 | 37 |
| June/July 2022 | 62 | 36 |
| 2023 | 62 | 36 |
| 2024 | 63 | 36 |
Source: Survey of U.S. adults conducted April 8-14, 2024. Data since 2019 is from the Center’s online American Trends Panel; prior data is from telephone surveys. Data for 1995-2005 is from ABC News/Washington Post polls; for 2006, an AP-Ipsos poll.
Views on abortion by religious affiliation, 2024
About three-quarters of White evangelical Protestants (73%) think abortion should be illegal in all or most cases. By contrast, 86% of religiously unaffiliated Americans say abortion should be legal in all or most cases, as do 71% of Black Protestants, 64% of White nonevangelical Protestants and 59% of Catholics.
| Religious affiliation | Legal in all/most cases | Illegal in all/most cases |
|---|---|---|
| White evangelical Protestant | 25% | 73% |
| White nonevangelical Protestant | 64 | 33 |
| Black Protestant | 71 | 26 |
| Catholic | 59 | 40 |
| Religiously unaffiliated | 86 | 13 |
Source: Survey of U.S. adults conducted April 8-14, 2024.
Views on abortion by party identification, 2024
Among Republicans and independents who lean toward the Republican Party, 57% say abortion should be illegal in all or most cases. By contrast, 85% of Democrats and Democratic leaners say abortion should be legal in all or most cases.
| Party identification | Legal in all/most cases | Illegal in all/most cases |
|---|---|---|
| Rep/lean Rep | 41% | 57% |
| Dem/lean Dem | 85 | 14 |
Source: Survey of U.S. adults conducted April 8-14, 2024.
Views on abortion by political party and ideology, 2024
Conservative Republicans and Republican leaners are far more likely to say abortion should be illegal in all or most cases than to say that it should be legal (71% vs. 27%). Among moderate and liberal Republicans, 67% say abortion should be legal, while 31% say it should be illegal.
The vast majority of liberal Democrats and Democratic leaners (96%) support legal abortion, as do about three-quarters of conservative and moderate Democrats (76%).
| Political party and ideology | Legal in all/most cases | Illegal in all/most cases |
|---|---|---|
| Conserv Rep/lean Rep | 27% | 71% |
| Mod/lib Rep/lean Rep | 67 | 31 |
| Conserv/mod Dem/lean Dem | 76 | 23 |
| Lib Dem/lean Dem | 96 | 4 |
Source: Survey of U.S. adults conducted April 8-14, 2024.
Views on abortion by gender, 2024
Majorities of both men (61%) and women (64%) express support for legal abortion.
| Gender | Legal in all/most cases | Illegal in all/most cases |
|---|---|---|
| Men | 61% | 38% |
| Women | 64 | 33 |
Source: Survey of U.S. adults conducted April 8-14, 2024.
Views on abortion by race and ethnicity, 2024
Majorities of adults across racial and ethnic groups express support for legal abortion. About three-quarters of Asian (76%) and Black (73%) adults say abortion should be legal in all or most cases, as do 60% of White adults and 59% of Hispanic adults.
| Race and ethnicity | Legal in all/most cases | Illegal in all/most cases |
|---|---|---|
| White | 60% | 38% |
| Black | 73 | 24 |
| Hispanic | 59 | 38 |
| Asian* | 76 | 24 |
* Estimates for Asian adults are representative of English speakers only.
Note: White, Black and Asian adults include those who report being one race and are not Hispanic. Hispanics are of any race.
Source: Survey of U.S. adults conducted April 8-14, 2024.
Views on abortion by age, 2024
Among adults under age 30, 76% say abortion should be legal in all or most cases, as do 61% of adults in their 30s and 40s. Among those in their 50s and early 60s, 57% express support for legal abortion, as do 59% of those ages 65 and older.
| Age | Legal in all/most cases | Illegal in all/most cases |
|---|---|---|
| Ages 18-29 | 76% | 23% |
| 30-49 | 61 | 37 |
| 50-64 | 57 | 40 |
| 65+ | 59 | 39 |
Source: Survey of U.S. adults conducted April 8-14, 2024.
Views on abortion by level of education, 2024
About two-thirds of college graduates (68%) say abortion should be legal in all or most cases, as do 64% of those with some college education. Among those with a high school degree or less education, 56% say abortion should be legal in all or most cases, while 41% say it should be illegal in all or most cases.
| Level of education | Legal in all/most cases | Illegal in all/most cases |
|---|---|---|
| HS or less | 56% | 41% |
| Some college | 64 | 34 |
| College grad+ | 68 | 31 |
Source: Survey of U.S. adults conducted April 8-14, 2024.
Note: Here are the questions used in these surveys, and information about the Center’s polling methodology.