A new report has found that abortions in the U.S rose again in 2024 — even as many states continue to tighten access.
According to data released Monday by the WeCount project of the Society of Family Planning, about 1.1 million abortions were performed last year, with women turning to increasingly creative and remote means despite sweeping state bans, according to the Associated Press.
The report, published a day ahead of the third anniversary of the Supreme Court’s reversal of Roe v. Wade, shows a monthly average of around 95,000 abortions — a rise from roughly 88,000 per month in 2023.
While the national number has gradually increased over the past three years, access remains highly uneven. In some states, abortion has nearly vanished, while others have seen sharp upticks thanks to expanded telehealth options.
Pill-based abortions — especially those prescribed online — are now a driving force. Prior to the Dobbs decision, only 1 in 20 abortions were conducted through telehealth.
By the end of 2024, that figure had skyrocketed to 1 in 4. Much of this growth occurred after Democratic-led states enacted “shield laws” designed to protect healthcare providers who prescribe abortion pills remotely to patients in states where abortion is restricted or banned.
WeCount reported that nearly half of last year’s telehealth abortions occurred under the protections of these laws.
The number also rose among people in states without bans. Still, it’s unclear how many prescriptions ultimately led to abortions, as some patients may have chosen other options or held onto the medication for future use.
The increase in remote access may help explain findings from the Guttmacher Institute indicating a drop in out-of-state travel for abortion care.
Meanwhile, a wave of efforts to curtail abortion pills has gathered steam. Legal challenges from three states aim to curb telehealth-based prescriptions of mifepristone, one of two drugs commonly used for medication abortions.
However, the Trump administration told a judge last month it believes these states lack legal standing — a stance echoed in a prior Supreme Court ruling that blocked similar claims from anti-abortion medical groups.
In states like Louisiana and Texas, authorities are applying criminal and civil strategies to crack down further, including targeting out-of-state doctors who prescribe pills across state lines. Louisiana legislators have sent a new bill to the governor’s desk to reinforce these restrictions.
