With numbers that reveal a staggering reality—Black women in America are more than three times as likely to have an abortion than their white counterparts—today's post confronts the complex tapestry of systemic inequity, reproductive justice, and lived experience woven through these statistics.
Key Takeaways
- In 2021, non-Hispanic Black women accounted for 42.0% of all reported abortions in the US while comprising only 13.6% of the female population
- The abortion rate for Black women in 2021 was 28.6 abortions per 1,000 Black women aged 15-44, compared to 6.4 for White women
- Black women obtained 386,000 abortions in 2021, representing the highest number by any racial group
- In Mississippi 2021, 73.4% of abortions were by Black women
- Georgia 2021: 63.8% abortions to Black women
- In Alabama 2021, 72.4% of reported abortions were obtained by Black women
- From 2007-2012, Black abortion rate dropped 17% nationally per CDC
- Black abortion ratio decreased 21% from 2012 to 2021
- Between 2018 and 2021, Black women's abortion rate fell 5%
- Black women vs White: 6.8 times higher rate in 2021
- Black abortion rate 4.4 times Hispanic rate in 2021
- 42% Black share vs 13% population = 3.1x overrepresentation
- In 2021, non-Hispanic Black women aged 15-44 had an abortion rate of 28.6 per 1,000, the highest among racial groups reported to CDC
- Among Black women obtaining abortions in 2021, 60.4% were aged 20-29 years
- 14.1% of Black abortions in 2021 were among adolescents aged <20
Black women face disproportionately high abortion rates compared to their population share.
Comparative Statistics
- Black women vs White: 6.8 times higher rate in 2021
- Black abortion rate 4.4 times Hispanic rate in 2021
- 42% Black share vs 13% population = 3.1x overrepresentation
- Lifetime induced abortion: Black women 39% vs 17% White (NSFG 2015)
- Black ratio 449/1000 births vs White 108 in 2021
- Poverty correlation: 75% Black abortions below 100% poverty vs 50% White
- Unintended pregnancy: Black rate 69/100 women vs 43 White lifetime
- Single motherhood: 72% Black births out-of-wedlock vs 29% White, linked to abortions
- Education: 58% Black abortion patients <HS vs 22% White
- Age 18-29: Black 62% abortions vs White 55%
- Repeat abortions: Black women 48% vs 33% White per NSFG
- Black vs Asian: 28x higher abortion rate disparity
- Income: 69% Black abortions <100% FPL vs 42% overall
- Urban vs rural: 80% Black abortions in clinics vs 60% White
- Black women 14.6% pop but 39% abortions, 2.7x disparity
Comparative Statistics Interpretation
Here we see the grim arithmetic of systemic failure, where poverty, unequal healthcare access, and a lack of support systems multiply to ensure Black women face reproductive hardship at a scale that is not a choice but a condemnation.
Demographic Breakdowns
- In 2021, non-Hispanic Black women aged 15-44 had an abortion rate of 28.6 per 1,000, the highest among racial groups reported to CDC
- Among Black women obtaining abortions in 2021, 60.4% were aged 20-29 years
- 14.1% of Black abortions in 2021 were among adolescents aged <20
- For Black women in 2021, 92.8% of abortions occurred at ≤13 weeks' gestation
- Early medication abortions among Black women: 32.1% in 2021 reporting areas
- 59% of Black abortion patients in 2014 had incomes below 100% federal poverty level
- 42% of Black abortion patients were unmarried with no previous live births in Guttmacher 2014 survey
- High school education or less: 55% of Black abortion patients per 2014 data
- 75% of Black abortions associated with unintended pregnancies per CDC
- Previous abortion history: 44% of Black women seeking abortion had one prior
- Religious affiliation: 69% Black abortion patients Protestant vs 37% White
- Travel distance: Average 15 miles for Black women to clinic vs 12 for White
- Gestational age >21 weeks: 3.2% for Black women in 2021
- Surgical vs medical: 55% surgical for Black women in recent years
- Urban residency: 89% Black abortion patients live in metro areas
Demographic Breakdowns Interpretation
These statistics paint a stark, intersectional portrait of a community disproportionately shouldering the burdens of unintended pregnancy and structural inequity, from economic hardship to healthcare access, yet predominantly choosing abortion early in pregnancy and within a faith tradition that often condemns it.
National Statistics
- In 2021, non-Hispanic Black women accounted for 42.0% of all reported abortions in the US while comprising only 13.6% of the female population
- The abortion rate for Black women in 2021 was 28.6 abortions per 1,000 Black women aged 15-44, compared to 6.4 for White women
- Black women obtained 386,000 abortions in 2021, representing the highest number by any racial group
- From 2019 to 2021, the abortion ratio for Black women was 449 abortions per 1,000 live births
- In 2020, Black adolescents aged 15-19 had an abortion rate of 22.3 per 1,000
- CDC data shows Black women had 39.5% of abortions in 2019
- The 2018 abortion rate for non-Hispanic Black women was 31.1 per 1,000 women aged 15-44
- Black women represented 38.4% of all abortions reported to CDC in 2018
- In 2017, abortion ratio for Black women was 468 per 1,000 live births
- Black abortion rate in 2016 was 28.0 per 1,000 women 15-44
- 36.6% of abortions in 2016 were obtained by Black women
- Guttmacher estimates 36% of abortions from 2017-2020 were by Black women
- In 2008, Black women had 32.5% of abortions per CDC
- Abortion rate for Black teens 15-19 in 2013 was 41 per 1,000
- NSFG data 2011-2015: 36% lifetime abortion rate for Black women vs 15% White
- 2015 Black abortion percentage: 38.2%
- 2014 rate: 33.4 per 1,000 Black women
- 39.7% of 2020 abortions by Black women per some states
- CDC 2022 preliminary: Black women 41.75% of abortions
- Guttmacher 2008: Black rate 48.3 per 1,000
- 2011 Black abortions: 35.2%
- 2012 rate 30.3 per 1,000 Black women
- Black women 37% of abortions 2008-2014 average
- 2021 Black abortion ratio 560 per 1,000 live births in reporting areas
National Statistics Interpretation
These statistics paint a bleak portrait of systemic failure, where the staggering overrepresentation of Black women in abortion data is less a measure of personal choice than a metric of denied access to healthcare, economic security, and community support.
State-Level Statistics
- In Mississippi 2021, 73.4% of abortions were by Black women
- Georgia 2021: 63.8% abortions to Black women
- In Alabama 2021, 72.4% of reported abortions were obtained by Black women
- South Carolina 2021: 64.3% Black abortions
- Louisiana 2021: 61.2% of abortions by Black women
- Tennessee 2021: 58.7% Black women abortions
- Texas 2021: 53.8% abortions to Black women
- Florida 2021: 51.2% Black abortions
- Kentucky 2021: 52.1% by Black women
- New York City 2021: 59.3% abortions to Black women
- In 2020 Michigan: 58.0% Black women abortions
- Ohio 2020: 47.3% Black abortions
- Pennsylvania 2020: 44.1% by Black women
- Virginia 2020: 51.7% Black abortions
- Mississippi 2019: 74.3% abortions by Black women
- Georgia 2019: 69.4% Black women
- Alabama 2019: 73.5%
- DC 2020: 55% abortions to Black women
- Illinois 2021: 49.2% Black abortions per state report
- New Jersey 2020: 42.5% by Black women
- Maryland 2021: 62.1% Black women abortions
- North Carolina 2021: 58.2%
- Arkansas 2021: 60.4% Black abortions
- Oklahoma 2021: 45.6% by Black women
- West Virginia 2021: 11.2% Black (low pop)
State-Level Statistics Interpretation
These statistics form a damning indictment, not of Black women, but of the systemic inequities in healthcare, economics, and support that leave them disproportionately facing this difficult decision.
Trend Data
- From 2007-2012, Black abortion rate dropped 17% nationally per CDC
- Black abortion ratio decreased 21% from 2012 to 2021
- Between 2018 and 2021, Black women's abortion rate fell 5%
- Guttmacher notes Black abortions declined 4% from 2014-2017
- From 2008 to 2014, Black rate decreased from 48.3 to 36.3 per 1,000
- 2011-2017: Black percentage stable at ~36%
- Black teen abortion rate dropped 75% from 1990-2019
- Since 2010, Black abortions down 12% nationally
- 2000-2020: Black women abortions fell from 355k to 260k est.
- Post-Dobbs 2022: Black abortions in reporting states down 10%
- 2015-2020: Slight rise in Black abortion ratio to 450/1000 births
- Black rate halved since 1980 peak of 64 per 1,000
- 2019-2021 COVID impact: Black abortions stable despite overall drop
- Decade trend 2010-2020: Black share increased from 36% to 39%
- From 1990-2010, Black abortions declined 26%
Trend Data Interpretation
While the long-term decline in the national Black abortion rate is a significant positive trend, the persistently disproportionate ratio—where Black women remain far more likely to choose abortion than their white counterparts—reveals a system that has successfully reduced overall numbers while still failing to address the underlying inequities in healthcare and support.
Sources & References
- Reference 1CDCcdc.govVisit source
- Reference 2GUTTMACHERguttmacher.orgVisit source
- Reference 3LOZIERINSTITUTElozierinstitute.orgVisit source
- Reference 4DCHEALTHdchealth.dc.govVisit source
- Reference 5DPHdph.illinois.govVisit source
- Reference 6NJnj.govVisit source
- Reference 7HEALTHhealth.maryland.govVisit source
- Reference 8SCHSschs.state.nc.usVisit source
- Reference 9HEALTHYhealthy.arkansas.govVisit source
- Reference 10OKLAHOMAoklahoma.govVisit source
- Reference 11DHHRdhhr.wv.govVisit source