Abortions Rose Slightly in 2024, But Interstate Travel Declined, Guttmacher Says

According to a new report released on April 15 by the Guttmacher Institute, the number of individuals traveling across state lines for abortions decreased by 9% in 2024, despite a slight increase in the total number of legal abortions in the U.S.

The reproductive rights research group estimates that in 2024, there were 1.04 million clinician-provided abortions across the nation, reflecting an increase of less than 1% from 2023. Nonetheless, the count of out-of-state patients pursuing abortions decreased to approximately 155,000, down from nearly 170,000 the year before.

The results stem from a monthly survey of abortion providers and provide a glimpse into the evolving national landscape nearly two years following the Supreme Court’s Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision, which removed federal protections for abortion access.

Despite twelve states maintaining near-total abortion bans with few exceptions and four others prohibiting the procedure around six weeks of pregnancy, the overall number of abortions has increased in the post-Roe era. This rise can be attributed to enhanced clinic capacity and a greater reliance on telehealth and medication abortion.

Guttmacher's data does not account for self-managed abortions, which are increasingly prevalent due to telehealth services and international pharmacies. A distinct study revealed that telehealth abortions in restricted states now represent approximately 10% of abortions in the U.S.

Significant reductions in out-of-state travel were observed in Florida following the implementation of a six-week ban in 2024. During the initial six months of 2023, approximately 1 in 8 abortions performed in Florida were for patients from other states. By the end of 2024, that figure had decreased to 1 in 50. In contrast, nearby states such as Virginia and New York experienced a rise in the number of patients seeking care.

Isaac Maddow-Zimet, a data scientist at Guttmacher, observed that obstacles persist despite minor increases in figures. “It is understood that certain individuals are utilizing telehealth services for abortion,” he stated, “and it is recognized that this is not a viable option for everyone.”

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