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Fewer Individuals Travel Across State Lines for Abortion Access in 2024
A recent survey indicates a decrease in the number of people crossing state borders to obtain abortions in 2024 compared to the previous year. This shift occurs as the abortion landscape in the U.S. continues to evolve following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.
Slight Rise in Overall Abortions, Decline in Interstate Travel
The Guttmacher Institute, a research organization advocating for abortion rights, reported in their Tuesday study that while the total number of abortions provided by clinicians in states where abortion is legal experienced a marginal increase of less than 1% from 2023 to 2024, the number of individuals traveling across state lines for abortion services decreased by approximately 9%.
Report Highlights Post-Roe v. Wade Abortion Landscape
This report, based on ongoing monthly surveys of abortion providers, offers an updated analysis of the evolving abortion access situation in the United States. The Supreme Court’s 2022 ruling, which eliminated the constitutional right to abortion and allowed states to implement bans and restrictions, has significantly reshaped the national landscape.
Key Findings from Guttmacher Institute Report:
- Overall Abortions Rise Slightly: Guttmacher estimates approximately 1.04 million abortions occurred in 2024, a roughly 1% increase from the prior year’s total.
- Trend of Increased Abortions Continues: Consistent with multiple studies, the total number of abortions in the U.S. has generally increased since the Dobbs decision, despite abortion bans in several states.
- State Abortion Restrictions: Currently, twelve states have comprehensive abortion bans with limited exceptions throughout pregnancy. An additional four states have bans in effect after approximately six weeks of gestation, often before individuals are aware of their pregnancy.
Self-Managed Abortions and Telehealth Access
The Guttmacher data does not include self-managed abortions, such as those involving abortion pills obtained through community networks, international pharmacies, or telehealth providers in states with legal protections for sending medication into ban states. The legality of these protective laws is currently being challenged in court. However, separate research suggests that telehealth abortion pill access is growing, accounting for approximately 1 in 10 abortions in the U.S. by mid-2024.
Concerns Remain About Access Despite Increased Numbers
Isaac Maddow-Zimet, a data scientist at Guttmacher, suggests that despite the overall rise in abortion numbers, some individuals who desire to terminate their pregnancies may still face barriers. He noted, “We know that some people are accessing abortion through telehealth, and we know it’s not a viable option for everyone.” The number of people traveling across state lines for abortion care decreased from nearly 170,000 to approximately 155,000.
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State-Level Variations in Interstate Abortion Travel
The impact on interstate abortion travel varies across different states. For example:
- Florida: In the first half of 2023, approximately 1 in 8 abortions in Florida were for out-of-state residents. Following the implementation of a six-week abortion ban in the latter half of 2024, this figure dropped to about 1 in 50.
- Virginia and New York: These states experienced an increase in individuals traveling for abortion care after the Florida ban took effect.
- Minnesota and Wisconsin: A decrease in travel to Minnesota might be linked to the resumption of abortion services in Wisconsin clinics.
- Kansas: A majority of abortions in Kansas are for individuals from other states, and this number has risen with expanded clinic capacity.
Distance to Clinics and Rising Birth Rates
A working paper released in March offered another perspective on the impact of abortion bans. It found that birth rates increased between 2020 and 2023 in counties located farther from abortion clinics. This increase was more pronounced among Black and Hispanic women, individuals with lower levels of education, and unmarried individuals.
Distance Remains a Significant Barrier
Caitlin Myers, an economics professor at Middlebury College and co-author of the working paper published by the National Bureau of Economic Research, stated, “The takeaway is that distance still matters. It really wasn’t obvious that that would be the case.”
Concerns About Bodily Autonomy and Maternal Mortality
Regina Davis Moss, president and CEO of In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda, asserted, “These bans are more than just policies; these are direct attacks on bodily autonomy.” She also emphasized the disproportionate impact of abortion bans on existing racial disparities in maternal mortality. Black women in the U.S. experienced maternal mortality at a rate nearly 3.5 times higher than white women in 2023.
Exacerbation of Maternal and Infant Mortality
“We’re going to be faced with increasing numbers of births, which is going to increase the maternal mortality rate, the infant mortality rate, and inequities in care,” Moss cautioned. “It’s very upsetting and sad.”
Lack of Awareness of Abortion Options
Bree Wallace, director of case management at the Tampa Bay Abortion Fund in Florida, which provides logistical and financial assistance for abortions, noted that many individuals considering abortion are unaware of their available options. “Many people don’t know their choices or think that it’s just not possible to go out of state,” Wallace explained. “A lot of people hear ‘ban’ or ‘six-week ban’ in their state, and that’s it.”