National abortion rate lowest since before Roe v. Wade

According to the latest reports from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the number and rate of abortions in the United States are at their lowest points since 1971, two years before the Supreme Court’s decision in Roe v. Wade.

The report is based on data gathered from 47 states, where 664,435 abortions were reported for 2013. The number of abortions was five percent greater just one year earlier and 20 percent greater in 2004. ABC News reports:

The CDC’s latest findings meshed with an Associated Press state-by-state survey conducted last year — with extensive data from 2014 — showing that abortions had been declining in virtually every state since 2010. There were big declines in conservative states passing laws to restrict abortions and also in more liberal states that protected abortion rights.

According to the report, abortion rates varied widely between states. For example, Mississippi reported 3.6 abortions per 1,000 women, ages 15-44, while New York reported a rate of 24.3 per 1,000. Mississippi currently only has a single active abortion facility operating in the state. New York, on the other hand, presents some disturbing abortion statistics. At times, New York City has reported more abortions of Black babies than those who were born.

The latest report from the CDC indicates a continuing trend of dropping abortion rates across a wide range of demographic groups. Earlier this year, the Guttmacher Institute released a report indicating that abortion rates among women aged 15-19 have reached their lowest point since Roe.