A startling racial divide emerges in America's reproductive healthcare landscape, where in 2021, Black women accounted for 42% of all reported abortions despite comprising just 13.4% of the female population of reproductive age.
Key Takeaways
- In 2021, non-Hispanic Black women accounted for 42.0% of all reported abortions while comprising 13.4% of the U.S. female population aged 15-44
- Non-Hispanic White women had an abortion rate of 5.7 per 1,000 women aged 15-44 in 2021, compared to 31.0 for non-Hispanic Black women
- Hispanic women experienced an abortion rate of 11.0 per 1,000 in 2021
- In California 2020, Latinas 42.5% of abortions, Blacks 19.1%, Whites 17.9%
- New York 2021: Black women 51.5% of abortions, Whites 18.2%, Latinas 22.4%
- Texas 2021: Hispanic 47.1%, White 25.4%, Black 20.8%
- From 2008-2014, Black abortion rates fell 33% nationally while White fell 18%
- 2007 Black abortion rate 45.3/1,000, down to 28.6 by 2019
- White rates from 11.4 in 2002 to 6.3 in 2019
- In 2021, Black women had 6.2 times higher abortion rate than White women (31.0 vs 5.7 per 1,000)
- Abortion ratio for Blacks 428/1,000 live births, 4.1 times White ratio of 104 in 2021
- Hispanics 2.3 times White rate (11.0 vs 5.7 per 1,000) in 2021
- Nationally, Black infants 3x more likely aborted than White
- 2021 CDC: Black-White disparity widened to 28.6 vs 6.4 rate gap
- In Southern states, Black share >60% abortions vs <15% pop, e.g., MS 74%
Black women have significantly higher abortion rates than other groups nationwide.
Abortion Ratios and Percentages by Race
- In 2021, Black women had 6.2 times higher abortion rate than White women (31.0 vs 5.7 per 1,000)
- Abortion ratio for Blacks 428/1,000 live births, 4.1 times White ratio of 104 in 2021
- Hispanics 2.3 times White rate (11.0 vs 5.7 per 1,000) in 2021
- Blacks 38.4% of abortions but 13.6% of women 15-44, overrepresentation by 2.8x
- Whites 30.4% of abortions, 52.3% of population, underrepresentation 0.6x
- In 2020, Black abortion ratio 399/1,000 vs White 98
- Guttmacher 2014: Black women 3.8x more likely to abort than White
- 2019: Black 38.5% abortions, ratio 386/1,000 live births
- Other race 6.2% of abortions, ratio 131/1,000 in 2021
- Blacks accounted for 61% of abortions among poor women vs 11% among high-income
- White poor women 28% of abortions among poor
- 2020 NYC: Black 51.2% abortions, White 17.5%, ratio Black 1,000+/1,000
- National 2018: Black ratio 386, Hispanic 167, White 112
- Blacks 39% abortions 2018, 4x their 9.4% birth share
- 2021 disparities: Black rate 5.4x Hispanic, 5.4x White
- In 39 states 2021, Black women 38.4% abortions vs 13.6% pop
- Black-White abortion rate ratio 5.4:1 in 2021, highest on record
- 2017 ratio Black 4.5x White
- Black women 14.4x more likely to abort than non-Hispanic Asian women
- In DC 2021, Black 55.8% abortions vs 46% pop
- Black abortion rates 7.5x national average in some analyses
Abortion Ratios and Percentages by Race Interpretation
These statistics starkly illustrate that the right to choose is exercised under profoundly unequal conditions, revealing a healthcare landscape where systemic inequities force Black women to bear a dramatically disproportionate share of reproductive burden.
Disparities and Comparative Statistics by Race
- Nationally, Black infants 3x more likely aborted than White
- 2021 CDC: Black-White disparity widened to 28.6 vs 6.4 rate gap
- In Southern states, Black share >60% abortions vs <15% pop, e.g., MS 74%
- Northeast: Black 40-50% abortions vs 10-15% pop
- Controlling for age/income, Black-White gap persists at 2.5x
- Poverty explains 50% of Black-White disparity per Guttmacher
- Urban vs rural: Black urban rates 40+/1,000 vs White rural 4/1,000
- Age-adjusted: Black teens 5x White teen abortion rates
- 344 Black fetuses aborted daily (2021 est.)
- Black population growth slowed by abortions equivalent to 1/3 of live births
- Hispanic-White gap 2x, stable since 2000
- Education disparity: <HS Black women 10x White college grads rate
- Medicaid-funded abortions disproportionately Black/Hispanic
- Post-Dobbs 2022: Travel abortions increase Black disparity
- In 15 states with longest data, Black disparity grew 20% 2010-2020
- Asian women lowest rates 2.1/1,000, 1/3 White rate
- Native American rates 12.5/1,000, 2.2x White
- Regional: Midwest Black-White ratio 3.8x, West 4.2x
Disparities and Comparative Statistics by Race Interpretation
America's persistent racial disparities in abortion, which even poverty can only half-explain, lay bare a system that has long failed Black communities with inadequate healthcare, economic support, and reproductive autonomy.
Historical Trends in Abortions by Race
- From 2008-2014, Black abortion rates fell 33% nationally while White fell 18%
- 2007 Black abortion rate 45.3/1,000, down to 28.6 by 2019
- White rates from 11.4 in 2002 to 6.3 in 2019
- Hispanic rates declined from 19.8 in 2007 to 10.3 in 2019
- Black share of abortions 41.3% in 2008, 38.5% in 2020
- White share 36.8% in 2008 to 31.9% in 2020
- 1990s data: Black rates twice White rates consistently
- From 1980-2014, Black abortion ratio peaked at 504/1,000 in 2008
- White abortion ratio stable around 100-120 per 1,000 live births 2000-2020
- 2014 Guttmacher: Blacks 24.3% higher abortion rate post-recession
- Pre-Roe 1973: Black abortions 24% in NYC vs 21% population
- 1970s NYC: Black abortion ratio 50% higher than Whites
- 1980 CDC: Black 33% of abortions, White 65%
- 1990: Black rate 56.2/1,000, White 17.6
- 2000: Black 49.4/1,000, down from 1990 peak
- 2002-2014 decline: Black 44%, Hispanic 38%, White 27%
- 2021 Black percentage 42%, up slightly from 2019 38.5%
- White percentage steady 32-33% 2017-2021
Historical Trends in Abortions by Race Interpretation
While we should celebrate the significant overall decline in abortion rates across all groups, the stubbornly persistent disparity where Black women remain disproportionately represented reminds us that true progress requires tackling the deeper roots of inequality in healthcare access and economic security.
National Abortion Rates by Race
- In 2021, non-Hispanic Black women accounted for 42.0% of all reported abortions while comprising 13.4% of the U.S. female population aged 15-44
- Non-Hispanic White women had an abortion rate of 5.7 per 1,000 women aged 15-44 in 2021, compared to 31.0 for non-Hispanic Black women
- Hispanic women experienced an abortion rate of 11.0 per 1,000 in 2021
- In 2020, Black women had 38.4% of abortions despite being 12.3% of women of reproductive age
- White women comprised 31.9% of abortions in 2020 with 59.2% of reproductive-age women
- In 2019, abortion rate for Black women was 23.8 per 1,000, White 6.3, Hispanic 10.3
- Other races had 5.7% of abortions in 2019
- 2021 data shows Black abortion ratio at 428 per 1,000 live births vs 104 for Whites
- Hispanic abortion ratio 180 per 1,000 live births in 2021
- From 2011-2021, Black women's abortion rate declined 13% but remained highest
- White abortion rate stable at around 6 per 1,000 from 2019-2021
- In 2021, 39 states reported race data; Blacks 38.4% of abortions
- 2018 national data: Black rate 28.7/1,000, White 6.6
- Hispanic rate 11.7/1,000 in 2018
- Blacks 39% of abortions in 2018, Whites 33%
- 2017: Black abortion rate 33.5/1,000 vs White 6.6
- Decline in Black abortion rates from 2007-2014 by 22%
- White rates declined 10% same period
- 2014 Black women 42% of abortions
- 2011 data: Black rate 36.2/1,000
- Hispanic 18.7/1,000 in 2011
- White 10.3/1,000 in 2011
- 2008 Black abortions 41% nationally
National Abortion Rates by Race Interpretation
The statistics starkly illustrate that the burden of unplanned pregnancy and abortion falls with an inordinate and unjust heaviness on Black women in America, revealing a persistent disparity that is a national failing, not a personal choice.
State-Level Abortion Statistics by Race
- In California 2020, Latinas 42.5% of abortions, Blacks 19.1%, Whites 17.9%
- New York 2021: Black women 51.5% of abortions, Whites 18.2%, Latinas 22.4%
- Texas 2021: Hispanic 47.1%, White 25.4%, Black 20.8%
- Florida 2022: Black 43.6%, Hispanic 25.1%, White 23.9%
- Georgia 2021: Black 68.9% of abortions, White 14.3%, Hispanic 12.1%
- Illinois 2020: Black 41.9%, White 28.5%, Hispanic 21.3%
- Michigan 2021: Black 59.1%, White 23.4%, Hispanic 9.2%
- Ohio 2021: White 50.2%, Black 30.1%, Hispanic 6.5%
- Pennsylvania 2021: White 47.6%, Black 37.4%, Hispanic 9.1%
- New Jersey 2020: Black 39.3%, Hispanic 29.8%, White 23.5%
- Arizona 2021: Hispanic 44.2%, White 32.7%, Black 11.8%
- In Louisiana 2021, Black women 61.2% of abortions, White 25.3%
- Missouri 2021: Black 47.5%, White 41.2%, Hispanic 5.6%
- Indiana 2021: White 62.4%, Black 23.7%, Hispanic 7.1%
- Kentucky 2021: White 74.5%, Black 17.2%, Hispanic 3.8%
- Tennessee 2021: Black 49.3%, White 38.7%, Hispanic 6.2%
- Alabama 2021: Black 72.4%, White 21.6%, Hispanic 3.1%
- Mississippi 2021: Black 74.3%, White 20.5%
- South Carolina 2021: Black 58.7%, White 29.4%, Hispanic 6.3%
- North Carolina 2021: Black 61.0%, White 23.8%, Hispanic 9.5%
- Virginia 2021: Black 40.2%, White 35.1%, Hispanic 14.7%
- Maryland 2021: Black 62.1%, White 18.4%, Hispanic 12.3%
State-Level Abortion Statistics by Race Interpretation
The data exposes a grim lottery where the winning ticket for needing an abortion is overwhelmingly held by the women our society has most systematically failed, making abortion statistics less a measure of choice and more a map of systemic neglect.
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