WASHINGTON — On Wednesday, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released its annual “Abortion Surveillance Report” for the year 2022. The numbers show a decrease in abortions from the 2021 survey.

Relying on reports from health departments across the country, the CDC reported 613,383 abortions for 2022 compared to 625,978 abortions for 2021. While the CDC’s “Abortion Surveillance Report” is an indication of abortion trends, this figure does not provide a complete picture of abortion in the United States. California (the nation’s most populous state), Maryland, New Hampshire, and New Jersey did not report abortion data to the CDC.

For context, it is important to remember that the 2022 report spans the pre-Dobbs and post-Dobbs U.S. Supreme Court decision in June 2022 that reversed Roe v. Wade.

“With this report, the pro-life movement is encouraged to see the impact of pro-life legislation in states that passed laws to protect unborn children and their mothers from the tragedy of abortion,” said Carol Tobias, president of National Right to Life. “Sadly, in states where legislatures and governors have pushed for unlimited abortion, abortion numbers rose. Nevertheless, we are optimistic to see that overall, there appear to have been fewer abortions performed in the U.S. because of these new laws.”

Tobias continued, “The pro-life movement recognizes that there is still much work to be done to protect innocent unborn babies and their mothers.”

In 2022, in the reporting areas included in the report, the CDC found an abortion rate of 11.2 abortions per 1,000 women aged 15–44 years, which is a decrease from 2021. The CDC found a ratio of 199 abortions per 1,000 live births, which is a decrease from 2021. 

“Unfortunately, the CDC report does not paint an accurate picture of abortion in the United States because of incomplete data,” continued Tobias. “It is imperative that Congress move to create a federal reporting requirement, so the CDC has better data on the impact of abortion.”

Tragically, based on Wednesday’s report, the percentage of chemical abortions performed rose to 57.6%. 

“The CDC report shows that the use of the chemical abortion method continues to rise,” said Randall K. O’Bannon, Ph.D., director of Education and Research for National Right to Life. “Women are not being told the truth about these painful and dangerous abortifacients and until they are, the numbers will continue to grow. The FDA’s relaxation of safety standards of the drugs and the media’s and abortion industry’s incessant sales campaign have helped to increase sales of the drug combination.” 

Dr. O’Bannon continued, “Promoters of these pills claim high safety and satisfaction rates, but neglect to mention how painful and bloody these abortions are, and how often women taking these pills end up in emergency rooms hemorrhaging, dealing with infections, and undiagnosed ectopic pregnancies. Unscreened women getting these pills in the mail may not be near help when they need it. More women, more babies will surely die.”

Sadly, the CDC also reported five deaths from legal abortion in 2021, the latest year numbers are available.

The full report from the CDC can be found here.

Founded in 1968, the National Right to Life Committee (NRLC), the federation of 50 state right-to-life affiliates, is the nation’s oldest and largest grassroots pro-life organization. NRLC works through legislation and education to protect innocent human life from abortion, infanticide, assisted suicide, and euthanasia.