Data and Statistics

Abortion

• Abortion Surveillance System FAQs
• MMWR: Abortion Surveillance — United States, 2013

In 2013, 664,435 legal induced abortions were reported to CDC from 49 reporting areas. The abortion rate for 2013 was 12.5 abortions per 1,000 women aged 15–44 years, and the abortion ratio was 200 abortions per 1,000 live births. 

Compared with 2012, the total number, rate, and ratio of reported abortions for 2013 decreased 5%. Additionally, from 2004–2013, the number, rate, and ratio of reported abortions decreased 20%, 21%, and 17%, respectively. In 2013, all three measures reached their lowest level for the entire period of analysis (2004-2013).

Women in their twenties accounted for the majority of abortions in 2013 and throughout the period of analysis. The majority of abortions in 2013 took place early in gestation: 91.6% of abortions were performed at ≤13 weeks’ gestation; a smaller number of abortions (7.1%) were performed at 14–20 weeks’ gestation, and even fewer (1.3%) were performed at ≥21 weeks’ gestation. In 2013, 22.2% of all abortions were early medical abortions. The percentage of abortions reported as early medical abortions increased 5% from 2012 to 2013. Source: MMWR.2016;65(12);1–44.

Previous MMWR Abortion Surveillance Reports

2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997 | 1996 | 1995 | 1994–1993 | 1992 | 1991 | 1990 | 1989 | 1988 | 1987–1986 | 1985–1984 | 1981 | 1980–1979

Fertility clinics in the U.S. report and verify data on the assisted reproductive technology (ART) cycles started and carried out in their clinics, and the outcomes of these cycles, during each calendar year.  ART includes all fertility treatments in which either eggs or embryos are handled.  The main type of ART is in vitro fertilization (IVF). IVF involves extracting a woman’s eggs, fertilizing the eggs in the laboratory, and then transferring the resulting embryos into the woman’s uterus through the cervix. These ART data are a rich source of information that can give potential ART users an idea of their average chances of success per ART cycle or ART transfer.

View the most recent ART success rates. Locate fertility clinics near you, learn about the services they provide, the types of patients they see, and their success rates.

The ART data are also available on www.healthdata.gov. This provides instant view and download of datasets generated by the Executive Branch of the federal government. Healthdata.gov provides descriptions of the federal datasets (metadata), information about how to access the datasets, and tools that leverage government datasets.

Assisted Reproductive Technology Surveillance Summaries
2014 | 2013| 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2006| 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000

Fact sheet: Hysterectomy in the United States, 2000–2004
In the United States, approximately 600,000 hysterectomies are performed each year, and the procedure is the second most frequently performed major surgical procedure among reproductive-aged women.

Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome in 28 States, 1999—2013 Source: MMWR. 2016;65(31);799–802.
These findings underscore the importance of state-based public health programs to prevent unnecessary opioid use and to treat substance use disorders during pregnancy.
Births: Final Data for 2015 [PDF – 1.8MB]
Comprehensive report on births and maternal health based on 100% of birth certificates reported in all 50 states, DC and U.S. territories. Source: National Vital Statistics Reports. 2017;66:1.
Effects of Maternal Age and Age-Specific Preterm Birth Rates on Overall Preterm Birth Rates — United States, 2007 and 2014. Source: MMWR.2016;65:1181–1184.
Linked Birth and Infant Death Data
CDC’s Division of Reproductive Health presents NCHS data related to sudden unexpected infant death.
Preterm Births—United States, 2006 and 2010. Source: MMWR. 2013;62(03):136–138.
Infant Deaths—United States, 2005–2008. Source: MMWR. 2013;62(03):171–175.
National Vital Statistics System- New Data Releases
QuickStats: Infant Mortality Rates, by Race and Hispanic Ethnicity of Mother—United States, 2000, 2005, and 2009. Source: MMWR. 2013;62(05):90.
QuickStats: Percentage of Births That Were Home Births, by Maternal Race/Ethnicity —United States, 1990–2009. Source: MMWR. 2012;61(03):58.
Behind International Rankings of Infant Mortality: How the United States Compares with Europe. Source: NCHS Data Brief. 2009;23. 
Infant Deaths— United States, 2000–2007. Source: MMWR. 2011;60(01);49–51.
QuickStats: Infant Mortality Rates, by Mother’s Place of Birth and Race/Ethnicity—United States, 2007. Source: MMWR. 2011;60(26):891.
Preterm Births—United States, 2007. Source: MMWR. 2011;60(01):78–79.
Born a Bit Too Early: Recent Trends in Late Preterm Births
According to this report from CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), the percentage of babies born preterm in the U.S. has increased by more than 20% between 1990 and 2006. Most of this increase was among babies born toward the end of the preterm period, at 34 to 36 full weeks of pregnancy, or during the period known as “late preterm.” Source: NCHS Data Brief. 2009;24.

Women’s Health USA 2010
This data book was developed by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to provide readers with an easy-to-use collection of current and historical data on some of the most pressing health challenges facing women, their families, and their communities. Women’s Health USA 2010 is intended to be a concise reference for policymakers and program managers at the federal, state, and local levels to identify and clarify issues affecting the health of women.
Preconception and Interconception Health Status of Women Who Recently Gave Birth to a Live-Born Infant—Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS), United States, 26 Reporting Areas, 2004
Source: MMWR. 2007;56(SS10):1–35.
QuickStats: Annual Rate of Visits to Office-Based Physicians and Hospital Outpatient Departments During Which Combination Estrogen-Progestin Hormone Therapy Was Prescribed for Women Aged >40 years, by Age Group—United States, 2001–2003
Source: MMWR. 2006,55(38):1047.
Women’s Health and Mortality Chartbook 
The Women’s Health and Mortality Chartbook is a statistical resource on women’s health in each of the states, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The chartbook was developed to provide readers with an easy-to-use collection of current jurisdiction data on critical issues of relevance to women. A total of 28 different health indicators are featured, which highlight some of the key issues related to women’s health that are being measured regularly at the state level.

Data on Selected Pregnancy Complications in the United States
Pregnancy complications may be caused by conditions women have before pregnancy or conditions women develop during pregnancy. Understanding rates and trends in the data can be used to identify opportunities to prevent and manage pregnancy complications and improve care for pregnant women.
Saving Mothers, Giving Life Initiative
Five reports provide CDC’s evaluation results of the pilot year of the Saving Mothers, Giving Life initiative, showing that the project was able to significantly decrease the number of maternal deaths in project districts in Uganda and Zambia.
Core State Preconception Health Indicators—Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System and Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2009.
Source: MMWR 2014;63(ss03):1-62.
Pregnancy Rates for U.S. Women Continue to Drop 
Source: NCHS data brief, no 136. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2013.
Pregnancy and Childbirth Among Females Aged 10–19 Years— United States, 2007–2010
Source: MMWR 2013;62(03):71–76.
QuickStats: Birth Rates Among Women Aged 15–44 Years, by Maternal Age Group—National Vital Statistics System, United States, 1961, 2007, and 2011.
Source: MMWR 2012;61(47):978.
Pregnancy Mortality Surveillance System
CDC’s Pregnancy Mortality Surveillance System uses data from all U.S. states to describe levels and causes of pregnancy-related deaths at the national level.
Estimated Pregnancy Rates and Rates of Pregnancy Outcomes for the United States, 1990–2008 [PDF – 463KB]
This report from the National Center for Health Statistics presents revised pregnancy rates for 2000–2005 and new rates for 2006–2008 for U.S. women through age 44.Rates are also presented for pregnancy outcomes (live birth, induced abortion, and fetal loss), by age, race, and Hispanic origin, and by marital status.
Source: National Vital Statistics Reports. 2012;60(7).
Recent Trends in Cesarean Delivery in the United States
Source: NCHS Data Briefs. 2010;35.
Seasonal Influenza and 2009 H1N1 Influenza Vaccination Coverage Among Pregnant Women—10 States, 2009–2010 Influenza Season
Source: MMWR. 2010;59(47):1541–1545.
Receipt of Influenza Vaccine During Pregnancy Among Women With Live Births—Georgia and Rhode Island, 2004–2007
Pregnant women are at increased risk for complications from influenza. Since 2004, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) Committee on Obstetric Practice have recommended that all pregnant women be vaccinated with the trivalent inactivated vaccine during any trimester of pregnancy.
Source: MMWR. 2009;58(35):972–975.
Preconception and Interconception Health Status of Women Who Recently Gave Birth to a Live-Born Infant—Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS), United States, 26 Reporting Areas, 2004
Source: MMWR. 2007;56(SS10):1–35.

Trends in Smoking Before, During, and After Pregnancy —Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS), United States, 31 Sites, 2000–2005
For 16 sites for which data were available for the entire 6-year study period, the prevalence of smoking before pregnancy remained unchanged, with approximately one of five women (from 22.3% in 2000 to 21.5% in 2005) reporting smoking before pregnancy. The prevalence of smoking during pregnancy declined from 15.2% in 2000 to 13.8% in 2005, and the prevalence of smoking after delivery declined from 18.1% in 2000 to 16.4% in 2005.
Source: MMWR. 2009;58(SS04):1–29.
Smoking-Attributable Mortality, Years of Potential Life Lost, and Productivity Losses —United States, 2000–2004.
During 2000–2004, smoking resulted in an estimated annual average of 269,655 deaths among males and 173,940 deaths among females in the United States. Smoking during pregnancy resulted in an estimated 776 infant deaths annually during 2000—2004.
Source: MMWR. 2008;57(45):1226–1228.
Smoking Prevalence Among Women of Reproductive Age—United States, 2006.
CDC analyzed state-specific prevalence of smoking and attempts to quit among women of reproductive age, using 2006 data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). Median state prevalence of current smoking was 22.4% (range: 5.8% [U.S. Virgin Islands]—34.7% [Kentucky]).
Source: MMWR. 2008;57(31):849–852.

Current contraceptive use in the United States, 2006–2010, and changes in patterns of use since 1995 [PDF- 443KB]
Source: National Center for Health Statistics. 2012;60.
QuickStats: Use of Selected Contraception Methods Among Women Aged 15–44 Years Currently Using Contraception—National Survey of Family Growth, United States, 1995 and 2006–2010
Source: MMWR. 2012;61(50:1031.
Intended and Unintended Births in the United States: 1982–2010 [PDF – 416KB]
Source: National Health Statistics Reports. 2012;55.
National Vital Statistics System: Birth Data
Source: National Vital Statistics Reports.
Unintended Pregnancy in the United States: Incidence and Disparities, 2006. [PDF – 507KB]
Source: Contraception. 2011;84(5):478–485.
QuickStats: Use of Selected Contraceptive Methods by Married Women of Childbearing Age in the United States, 2006—2008, Compared with Married Women in Selected Countries with Low Fertility Rates, 2000–2008.
Source: MMWR. 2010;59(28):879.
QuickStats: Primary Contraceptive Method Used Among Women Aged 15–44 Years—National Survey of Family Growth, United States, 2006–2008.
Source: MMWR. 2010;59(25):781.
Use of Contraception in the United States: 1982–2008. [PDF – 1.5 MB]
Source: Vital Health Stat. 2010;23(29).
Sexual and Reproductive Health of Persons Aged 10–24 Years—United States, 2002–2007. [PDF – 1.45MB]
Source: MMWR. 2009;58(SS-6).
Fertility, Family Planning, and Reproductive Health of U.S. Women: Data From the 2002 National Survey of Family Growth. [PDF – 4.8MB]
Source: National Vital Statistics System. 2005;23(25).
Estimated Pregnancy Rates for the United States, 1990–2005: An Update. (10/2009) [PDF – 1 MB]
Source: National Vital Statistics Report. 2009;58(4).
Comparability of contraceptive prevalence etimates for women from the 2002 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.
Source: Public Health Reports. 2008;123(2):147–154.
Pregnancy intention and contraceptive use among adult women.
Source: Matern Child Health J. 2007;11(4):347–351.  
Contraceptive Use—United States and Territories, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2002.
In the United States, approximately half of all pregnancies are unintended. Contraceptive use is an important determinant of such pregnancies. To characterize contraceptive use in the United States and its territories, the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), for the first time, asked both men and women about their birth-control use for the prevention of pregnancy during 2002.
Source: MMWR. 2005;54(SS06):1–72.