Black women recorded an abortion rate of 28.6 per 1,000 women aged 15 to 44, the highest among racial groups in CDC reports. This rate exceeds the White rate by more than four times and accounts for 42 percent of all abortions despite comprising 13.6 percent of the female population. The data sections examine how poverty levels, education, and unintended pregnancy rates align with these figures.
Key Takeaways
- Black women vs White: 6.8 times higher rate in 2021
- 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
- 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
- In Mississippi 2021, 73.4% of abortions were by Black women
- From 2007-2012, Black abortion rate dropped 17% nationally per CDC
Black people face higher abortion restrictions, making access to safe care more difficult and urgent.
Related reading
01 · Category
Comparative Statistics15 stats
01
Black women vs White: 6.8 times higher rate in 2021
02
Black abortion rate 4.4 times Hispanic rate in 2021
03
42% Black share vs 13% population = 3.1x overrepresentation
04
Lifetime induced abortion: Black women 39% vs 17% White (NSFG 2015)
05
Black ratio 449/1000 births vs White 108 in 2021
06
Poverty correlation: 75% Black abortions below 100% poverty vs 50% White
07
Unintended pregnancy: Black rate 69/100 women vs 43 White lifetime
08
Single motherhood: 72% Black births out-of-wedlock vs 29% White, linked to abortions
09
Education: 58% Black abortion patients <HS vs 22% White
10
Age 18-29: Black 62% abortions vs White 55%
11
Repeat abortions: Black women 48% vs 33% White per NSFG
12
Black vs Asian: 28x higher abortion rate disparity
13
Income: 69% Black abortions <100% FPL vs 42% overall
14
Urban vs rural: 80% Black abortions in clinics vs 60% White
15
Black women 14.6% pop but 39% abortions, 2.7x disparity
Interpretation
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.
02 · Category
Demographic Breakdowns15 stats
01
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
02
Among Black women obtaining abortions in 2021, 60.4% were aged 20-29 years
03
14.1% of Black abortions in 2021 were among adolescents aged <20
04
For Black women in 2021, 92.8% of abortions occurred at ≤13 weeks' gestation
05
Early medication abortions among Black women: 32.1% in 2021 reporting areas
06
59% of Black abortion patients in 2014 had incomes below 100% federal poverty level
07
42% of Black abortion patients were unmarried with no previous live births in Guttmacher 2014 survey
08
High school education or less: 55% of Black abortion patients per 2014 data
09
75% of Black abortions associated with unintended pregnancies per CDC
10
Previous abortion history: 44% of Black women seeking abortion had one prior
11
Religious affiliation: 69% Black abortion patients Protestant vs 37% White
12
Travel distance: Average 15 miles for Black women to clinic vs 12 for White
13
Gestational age >21 weeks: 3.2% for Black women in 2021
14
Surgical vs medical: 55% surgical for Black women in recent years
15
Urban residency: 89% Black abortion patients live in metro areas
Interpretation
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.
03 · Category
National Statistics24 stats
01
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
02
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
03
Black women obtained 386,000 abortions in 2021, representing the highest number by any racial group
04
From 2019 to 2021, the abortion ratio for Black women was 449 abortions per 1,000 live births
05
In 2020, Black adolescents aged 15-19 had an abortion rate of 22.3 per 1,000
06
CDC data shows Black women had 39.5% of abortions in 2019
07
The 2018 abortion rate for non-Hispanic Black women was 31.1 per 1,000 women aged 15-44
08
Black women represented 38.4% of all abortions reported to CDC in 2018
09
In 2017, abortion ratio for Black women was 468 per 1,000 live births
10
Black abortion rate in 2016 was 28.0 per 1,000 women 15-44
11
36.6% of abortions in 2016 were obtained by Black women
12
Guttmacher estimates 36% of abortions from 2017-2020 were by Black women
13
In 2008, Black women had 32.5% of abortions per CDC
14
Abortion rate for Black teens 15-19 in 2013 was 41 per 1,000
15
NSFG data 2011-2015: 36% lifetime abortion rate for Black women vs 15% White
16
2015 Black abortion percentage: 38.2%
17
2014 rate: 33.4 per 1,000 Black women
18
39.7% of 2020 abortions by Black women per some states
19
CDC 2022 preliminary: Black women 41.75% of abortions
20
Guttmacher 2008: Black rate 48.3 per 1,000
21
2011 Black abortions: 35.2%
22
2012 rate 30.3 per 1,000 Black women
23
Black women 37% of abortions 2008-2014 average
24
2021 Black abortion ratio 560 per 1,000 live births in reporting areas
Interpretation
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.
More related reading
04 · Category
State-Level Statistics25 stats
01
In Mississippi 2021, 73.4% of abortions were by Black women
02
Georgia 2021: 63.8% abortions to Black women
03
In Alabama 2021, 72.4% of reported abortions were obtained by Black women
04
South Carolina 2021: 64.3% Black abortions
05
Louisiana 2021: 61.2% of abortions by Black women
06
Tennessee 2021: 58.7% Black women abortions
07
Texas 2021: 53.8% abortions to Black women
08
Florida 2021: 51.2% Black abortions
09
Kentucky 2021: 52.1% by Black women
10
New York City 2021: 59.3% abortions to Black women
11
In 2020 Michigan: 58.0% Black women abortions
12
Ohio 2020: 47.3% Black abortions
13
Pennsylvania 2020: 44.1% by Black women
14
Virginia 2020: 51.7% Black abortions
15
Mississippi 2019: 74.3% abortions by Black women
16
Georgia 2019: 69.4% Black women
17
Alabama 2019: 73.5%
18
DC 2020: 55% abortions to Black women
19
Illinois 2021: 49.2% Black abortions per state report
20
New Jersey 2020: 42.5% by Black women
21
Maryland 2021: 62.1% Black women abortions
22
North Carolina 2021: 58.2%
23
Arkansas 2021: 60.4% Black abortions
24
Oklahoma 2021: 45.6% by Black women
25
West Virginia 2021: 11.2% Black (low pop)
Interpretation
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.
05 · Category
Trend Data15 stats
01
From 2007-2012, Black abortion rate dropped 17% nationally per CDC
02
Black abortion ratio decreased 21% from 2012 to 2021
03
Between 2018 and 2021, Black women's abortion rate fell 5%
04
Guttmacher notes Black abortions declined 4% from 2014-2017
05
From 2008 to 2014, Black rate decreased from 48.3 to 36.3 per 1,000
06
2011-2017: Black percentage stable at ~36%
07
Black teen abortion rate dropped 75% from 1990-2019
08
Since 2010, Black abortions down 12% nationally
09
2000-2020: Black women abortions fell from 355k to 260k est.
10
Post-Dobbs 2022: Black abortions in reporting states down 10%
11
2015-2020: Slight rise in Black abortion ratio to 450/1000 births
12
Black rate halved since 1980 peak of 64 per 1,000
13
2019-2021 COVID impact: Black abortions stable despite overall drop
14
Decade trend 2010-2020: Black share increased from 36% to 39%
15
From 1990-2010, Black abortions declined 26%
Interpretation
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.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Julian Richter. (2026, February 13). Black Abortion Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/black-abortion-statistics
MLA
Julian Richter. "Black Abortion Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/black-abortion-statistics.
Chicago
Julian Richter. 2026. "Black Abortion Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/black-abortion-statistics.
Sources & references
11 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level