A data presentation · United States and world · 1944–2025
Abortion and Adoption Counts
How many abortions and adoptions are recorded each year, from the earliest national estimates to 2025, with every figure traced to its source.
1,126,000US abortions in 2025Guttmacher Institute
106,196US adoptions in 2022, latest totalNational Council For Adoption
73.3Mabortions a year worldwide, 2015–2019 averageBearak et al. 2020, model estimate (66.7M–82M)
Move with the arrow keys, the buttons at the bottom, or by scrolling. Data and sources are on the last two slides.
United States · one shared scale
Since 1975, recorded US abortions have outnumbered adoptions by about 8 to 14 times each year with both counts
- Estimated abortions in clinical settings (Guttmacher)
- Legal abortions reported to CDC, 1969–72
- Illegal abortions, estimated
- All adoptions, national estimates (joined only within one source)
- 1,608,600 abortions at the 1990 peak, falling 46% to 862,320 in 2017, then rising to 1,126,000 in 2025.
- 175,000 adoptions at the 1970 peak; 106,196 in 2022, including stepparent adoptions.
- 2021–22 have no national estimate. Guttmacher’s monthly study starts in 2023 (1,037,000, before it counted telehealth into states with bans); 2024–25 include that telehealth.
United States · adoptions on their own scale
US adoptions peaked at 175,000 in 1970; recent totals run 101,165 to 121,465 a year in 2019–22
- US Children’s Bureau estimates
- Court records compiled by the National Center for State Courts
- National Council For Adoption
- Three families of studies. Each counts adoptions differently, so lines join only consecutive years within one study.
- 19 estimates since 1975. No agency counts every adoption every year; the gaps are years with no national estimate.
- Method matters. 127,407 in 2001 from court records, 151,332 in 2002 from NCFA. The methods differ, so the jump cannot be read as a real rise.
United States · 1944–1980
Before 1973, adoptions were counted while abortions were mostly illegal and only estimated
- Estimated abortions in clinical settings (Guttmacher)
- Legal abortions reported to CDC, 1969–72
- Illegal abortions, estimated
- All adoptions, national estimates (joined only within one source)
- 143% rise in adoptions from 72,000 in 1951 to 175,000 in 1970, the highest national estimate on record.
- 200,000–1,200,000 illegal abortions a year was the range of published estimates for the 1950s and 1960s; another put 1967 at 829,000.
- 22,670 → 586,760 legal abortions reported to the CDC, 1969 to 1972, as states liberalized their laws; the CDC also estimated 130,000 illegal abortions in 1972.
World · abortion rate, one model
The world abortion rate was 39 per 1,000 women in 2015–19, about the same as the 40 of 1990–94
- Five-year average, Bearak et al. 2020 model
- 80% uncertainty interval
- 71.4M–73.3M a year on average in 2010–19, from the same model.
- Lowest: 35 per 1,000 in 2000–04. Rates between the end periods are read from the study’s chart and have no published interval.
- One model on purpose. Older studies (36M–56.3M a year) used other methods. They are kept in the data, not drawn beside this series.
World · intercountry adoption
Intercountry adoption fell 92% from its 2004 peak
- All reporting receiving countries
- Into the United States
- 45,482 → 3,700 worldwide, 2004 to 2022, across the 18–25 receiving countries that report.
- 22,988 → 973 into the US, 2004 to 2025, a 96% drop. The US received 51% of all intercountry adoptions in 2004.
- No global count of all adoptions exists. Intercountry adoption is the only series tracked worldwide.
Before you quote these numbers
Reading the numbers
- Abortions and adoptions count different events. Most adoptions are of children already born, often from foster care or by stepparents, not infants placed at birth.
- Two US abortion series exist. Guttmacher estimates abortions in clinical settings from provider surveys; some years are its own estimates. The CDC relies on voluntary state reports and has omitted California since 1998, so it runs lower; after 1997 the data use only areas that reported every year. Both are in the data.
- Before 1970 there are no counts, only rough estimates of illegal abortions built on assumptions and survey extrapolation.
- US adoption totals come from periodic studies by the Children’s Bureau, the National Center for State Courts and the National Council For Adoption, with differing methods. Totals include stepparent adoptions.
- World abortion figures are model estimates with wide uncertainty ranges. The charts use one model throughout; older studies used different methods and stay in the data, unplotted.
Data
229 values in 10 series, each with its source
| Series | Years | Values | On charts | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US illegal abortions, estimated | 1955–1972 | 3 | Charted | 1, 2 |
| US legal abortions reported to CDC (comparable areas) | 1969–2022 | 54 | Partly charted | 3, 4 |
| US legal abortions reported to CDC, all areas | 2022–2022 | 1 | Data only | 5 |
| US abortions (Guttmacher) | 1973–2025 | 51 | Charted | 4, 6, 7 |
| US adoptions, all types | 1944–2022 | 41 | Charted | 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 |
| World abortion rate per 1,000 women 15–49 | 1990–2019 | 6 | Charted | 15 |
| World abortions, Bearak 2020 model | 2010–2019 | 2 | Data only | 15 |
| World abortions, older studies (not plotted) | 1987–2014 | 6 | Data only | 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 |
| World intercountry adoptions | 1988–2022 | 23 | Charted | 21, 22, 23, 24 |
| Intercountry adoptions into the US | 1970–2025 | 42 | Charted | 21, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 |
The CSV has one row per value: series, year, value, range, source, link and note.
How to read the CSV
- series
- One definition from one source family. Do not add series together; the US intercountry series is part of the world total.
- year, year_end
- Inclusive period. A five-year period holds an annual average, not a total.
- value, low, high, interval
- The estimate and its range. The interval column says what the range is: a model uncertainty interval or a range of published estimates. A range with no value has no point estimate.
- unit, status, coverage
- What is counted, whether it is reported, estimated, modeled or superseded, and which places or reporters it covers.
- plotted
- “yes” if the value is drawn on the charts; “no” for context and superseded estimates kept for provenance.
- source, source_url, note
- Row-level citation and caveats.
Show every value
| Year | Number | Src | Status, coverage and notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1955 | 200,000–1,200,000 | 1 | estimate; United States; illegal or self-induced; range of published estimates; Range of expert estimates of illegal abortions per year (1955 conference); based on qualitative assumptions |
| 1967 | 829,000 | 2 | estimate; United States; illegal or self-induced; Illegal or self-induced; extrapolated from a North Carolina survey |
| 1972 | 130,000 | 2 | estimate; United States; illegal or self-induced; CDC estimate cited by Gold (2003) |
| Year | Number | Src | Status, coverage and notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | 22,670 | 3 | reported; 10 reporting states; Legal abortions reported to CDC; first year of surveillance |
| 1970 | 193,491 | 3 | reported; 24 reporting states and areas; Legal abortions reported to CDC; only states with liberalized laws reported |
| 1971 | 485,816 | 3 | reported; 25 reporting states and areas; Legal abortions reported to CDC; only states with liberalized laws reported |
| 1972 | 586,760 | 3 | reported; 28 reporting states and areas; Legal abortions reported to CDC; only states with liberalized laws reported |
| 1973 | 615,831 | 4 | reported; 50 states and DC |
| 1974 | 763,476 | 4 | reported; 50 states and DC |
| 1975 | 854,853 | 4 | reported; 50 states and DC |
| 1976 | 988,267 | 4 | reported; 50 states and DC |
| 1977 | 1,079,430 | 4 | reported; 50 states and DC |
| 1978 | 1,157,780 | 4 | reported; 50 states and DC |
| 1979 | 1,251,920 | 4 | reported; 50 states and DC |
| 1980 | 1,297,610 | 4 | reported; 50 states and DC |
| 1981 | 1,300,760 | 4 | reported; 50 states and DC |
| 1982 | 1,303,980 | 4 | reported; 50 states and DC |
| 1983 | 1,268,990 | 4 | reported; 50 states and DC |
| 1984 | 1,333,520 | 4 | reported; 50 states and DC |
| 1985 | 1,328,570 | 4 | reported; 50 states and DC |
| 1986 | 1,328,110 | 4 | reported; 50 states and DC |
| 1987 | 1,353,670 | 4 | reported; 50 states and DC |
| 1988 | 1,371,280 | 4 | reported; 50 states and DC |
| 1989 | 1,396,660 | 4 | reported; 50 states and DC |
| 1990 | 1,429,580 | 4 | reported; 50 states and DC |
| 1991 | 1,388,940 | 4 | reported; 50 states and DC |
| 1992 | 1,359,140 | 4 | reported; 50 states and DC |
| 1993 | 1,330,410 | 4 | reported; 50 states and DC |
| 1994 | 1,267,420 | 4 | reported; 50 states and DC |
| 1995 | 1,210,880 | 4 | reported; 50 states and DC |
| 1996 | 1,221,580 | 4 | reported; 50 states and DC |
| 1997 | 885,624 | 4 | reported; Excludes AK, CA, LA, NH, OK, WV; Pew's comparable subset of CDC reports |
| 1998 | 870,184 | 4 | reported; Excludes AK, CA, LA, NH, OK, WV; Pew's comparable subset of CDC reports |
| 1999 | 847,283 | 4 | reported; Excludes AK, CA, LA, NH, OK, WV; Pew's comparable subset of CDC reports |
| 2000 | 826,123 | 4 | reported; Excludes AK, CA, DE, LA, MD, NH, WV; Pew's comparable subset of CDC reports |
| 2001 | 821,850 | 4 | reported; Excludes AK, CA, DE, LA, MD, NH, WV; Pew's comparable subset of CDC reports |
| 2002 | 823,534 | 4 | reported; Excludes AK, CA, DE, LA, MD, NH, WV; Pew's comparable subset of CDC reports |
| 2003 | 820,052 | 4 | reported; Excludes AK, CA, DE, LA, MD, NH, WV; Pew's comparable subset of CDC reports |
| 2004 | 811,381 | 4 | reported; Excludes AK, CA, DE, LA, MD, NH, WV; Pew's comparable subset of CDC reports |
| 2005 | 801,577 | 4 | reported; Excludes AK, CA, DE, LA, MD, NH, WV; Pew's comparable subset of CDC reports |
| 2006 | 827,888 | 4 | reported; Excludes AK, CA, DE, LA, MD, NH, WV; Pew's comparable subset of CDC reports |
| 2007 | 812,273 | 4 | reported; Excludes AK, CA, DE, LA, MD, NH, WV; Pew's comparable subset of CDC reports |
| 2008 | 810,403 | 4 | reported; Excludes AK, CA, DE, LA, MD, NH, WV; Pew's comparable subset of CDC reports |
| 2009 | 772,630 | 4 | reported; Excludes AK, CA, DE, LA, MD, NH, WV; Pew's comparable subset of CDC reports |
| 2010 | 762,755 | 4 | reported; Excludes CA, MD, NH, DC; Pew's comparable subset of CDC reports |
| 2011 | 727,554 | 4 | reported; Excludes CA, MD, NH, DC; Pew's comparable subset of CDC reports |
| 2012 | 673,634 | 4 | reported; Excludes CA, MD, NH, NJ, DC (continuously reporting areas); Pew's comparable subset of CDC reports |
| 2013 | 640,154 | 4 | reported; Excludes CA, MD, NH, NJ, DC (continuously reporting areas); Pew's comparable subset of CDC reports |
| 2014 | 625,668 | 4 | reported; Excludes CA, MD, NH, NJ, DC (continuously reporting areas); Pew's comparable subset of CDC reports |
| 2015 | 613,911 | 4 | reported; Excludes CA, MD, NH, NJ, DC (continuously reporting areas); Pew's comparable subset of CDC reports |
| 2016 | 599,001 | 4 | reported; Excludes CA, MD, NH, NJ, DC (continuously reporting areas); Pew's comparable subset of CDC reports |
| 2017 | 587,611 | 4 | reported; Excludes CA, MD, NH, NJ, DC (continuously reporting areas); Pew's comparable subset of CDC reports |
| 2018 | 591,884 | 4 | reported; Excludes CA, MD, NH, NJ, DC (continuously reporting areas); Pew's comparable subset of CDC reports |
| 2019 | 603,168 | 4 | reported; Excludes CA, MD, NH, NJ, DC (continuously reporting areas); Pew's comparable subset of CDC reports |
| 2020 | 592,939 | 4 | reported; Excludes CA, MD, NH, NJ, DC (continuously reporting areas); Pew's comparable subset of CDC reports |
| 2021 | 622,108 | 4 | reported; Excludes CA, MD, NH, NJ, DC (continuously reporting areas); Pew's comparable subset of CDC reports |
| 2022 | 609,360 | 4 | reported; Excludes CA, MD, NH, NJ, DC (continuously reporting areas); Pew's comparable subset of CDC reports |
| Year | Number | Src | Status, coverage and notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 613,383 | 5 | reported; All 48 reporting areas; The 609,360 in us_abortion_cdc is the 47 continuously reporting areas |
| Year | Number | Src | Status, coverage and notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | 744,600 | 4 | reported; United States; abortions in clinical settings (provider census) |
| 1974 | 898,600 | 4 | reported; United States; abortions in clinical settings (provider census) |
| 1975 | 1,034,200 | 4 | reported; United States; abortions in clinical settings (provider census) |
| 1976 | 1,179,300 | 4 | reported; United States; abortions in clinical settings (provider census) |
| 1977 | 1,316,700 | 4 | reported; United States; abortions in clinical settings (provider census) |
| 1978 | 1,409,600 | 4 | reported; United States; abortions in clinical settings (provider census) |
| 1979 | 1,497,700 | 4 | reported; United States; abortions in clinical settings (provider census) |
| 1980 | 1,553,900 | 4 | reported; United States; abortions in clinical settings (provider census) |
| 1981 | 1,577,300 | 4 | reported; United States; abortions in clinical settings (provider census) |
| 1982 | 1,573,900 | 4 | reported; United States; abortions in clinical settings (provider census) |
| 1983 | 1,575,000 | 4 | estimate; United States; abortions in clinical settings (provider census); Interpolated or estimated by Guttmacher |
| 1984 | 1,577,200 | 4 | reported; United States; abortions in clinical settings (provider census) |
| 1985 | 1,588,600 | 4 | reported; United States; abortions in clinical settings (provider census) |
| 1986 | 1,574,000 | 4 | estimate; United States; abortions in clinical settings (provider census); Interpolated or estimated by Guttmacher |
| 1987 | 1,559,100 | 4 | reported; United States; abortions in clinical settings (provider census) |
| 1988 | 1,590,800 | 4 | reported; United States; abortions in clinical settings (provider census) |
| 1989 | 1,566,900 | 4 | estimate; United States; abortions in clinical settings (provider census); Interpolated or estimated by Guttmacher |
| 1990 | 1,608,600 | 4 | estimate; United States; abortions in clinical settings (provider census); Interpolated or estimated by Guttmacher |
| 1991 | 1,556,500 | 4 | reported; United States; abortions in clinical settings (provider census) |
| 1992 | 1,528,900 | 4 | reported; United States; abortions in clinical settings (provider census) |
| 1993 | 1,500,000 | 4 | estimate; United States; abortions in clinical settings (provider census); Interpolated or estimated by Guttmacher |
| 1994 | 1,431,000 | 4 | estimate; United States; abortions in clinical settings (provider census); Interpolated or estimated by Guttmacher |
| 1995 | 1,363,700 | 4 | reported; United States; abortions in clinical settings (provider census) |
| 1996 | 1,365,700 | 4 | reported; United States; abortions in clinical settings (provider census) |
| 1997 | 1,335,000 | 4 | estimate; United States; abortions in clinical settings (provider census); Interpolated or estimated by Guttmacher |
| 1998 | 1,319,000 | 4 | estimate; United States; abortions in clinical settings (provider census); Interpolated or estimated by Guttmacher |
| 1999 | 1,314,800 | 4 | reported; United States; abortions in clinical settings (provider census) |
| 2000 | 1,313,000 | 4 | reported; United States; abortions in clinical settings (provider census) |
| 2001 | 1,291,000 | 4 | estimate; United States; abortions in clinical settings (provider census); Interpolated or estimated by Guttmacher |
| 2002 | 1,269,000 | 4 | estimate; United States; abortions in clinical settings (provider census); Interpolated or estimated by Guttmacher |
| 2003 | 1,250,000 | 4 | estimate; United States; abortions in clinical settings (provider census); Interpolated or estimated by Guttmacher |
| 2004 | 1,222,100 | 4 | reported; United States; abortions in clinical settings (provider census) |
| 2005 | 1,206,200 | 4 | reported; United States; abortions in clinical settings (provider census) |
| 2006 | 1,242,200 | 4 | estimate; United States; abortions in clinical settings (provider census); Interpolated or estimated by Guttmacher |
| 2007 | 1,209,600 | 4 | reported; United States; abortions in clinical settings (provider census) |
| 2008 | 1,212,400 | 4 | reported; United States; abortions in clinical settings (provider census) |
| 2009 | 1,151,600 | 4 | estimate; United States; abortions in clinical settings (provider census); Interpolated or estimated by Guttmacher |
| 2010 | 1,102,700 | 4 | reported; United States; abortions in clinical settings (provider census) |
| 2011 | 1,058,500 | 4 | reported; United States; abortions in clinical settings (provider census) |
| 2012 | 1,011,000 | 4 | estimate; United States; abortions in clinical settings (provider census); Interpolated or estimated by Guttmacher |
| 2013 | 958,700 | 4 | reported; United States; abortions in clinical settings (provider census) |
| 2014 | 926,200 | 4 | reported; United States; abortions in clinical settings (provider census) |
| 2015 | 899,500 | 4 | estimate; United States; abortions in clinical settings (provider census); Interpolated or estimated by Guttmacher |
| 2016 | 874,100 | 4 | reported; United States; abortions in clinical settings (provider census) |
| 2017 | 862,320 | 4 | reported; United States; abortions in clinical settings (provider census) |
| 2018 | 885,800 | 4 | estimate; United States; abortions in clinical settings (provider census); Interpolated or estimated by Guttmacher |
| 2019 | 916,460 | 4 | reported; United States; abortions in clinical settings (provider census) |
| 2020 | 930,160 | 4 | reported; United States; abortions in clinical settings (provider census) |
| 2023 | 1,037,000 | 6 | estimate; United States; formal health care system, excluding telehealth into states with total bans (monthly study, 2024 release); Earlier method than 2024-25; Guttmacher's 2026 release revised 2023 upward to add telehealth into ban states (revised figure not verified at source) |
| 2024 | 1,124,000 | 7 | estimate; United States; clinician-provided incl. telehealth into states with total bans (monthly study); Clinician-provided incl. telehealth into ban states; excludes self-managed |
| 2025 | 1,126,000 | 7 | estimate; United States; clinician-provided incl. telehealth into states with total bans (monthly study); Clinician-provided incl. telehealth into ban states; excludes self-managed |
| Year | Number | Src | Status, coverage and notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1944 | 50,000 | 8 | estimate; United States; all types incl. relatives and stepparents; Adoption petitions, extrapolated from 22 reporting states |
| 1951 | 72,000 | 8 | estimate; United States; all types incl. relatives and stepparents; Estimate developed by Maza |
| 1955 | 93,000 | 8 | estimate; United States; all types incl. relatives and stepparents |
| 1957 | 91,000 | 8 | estimate; United States; all types incl. relatives and stepparents |
| 1958 | 96,000 | 8 | estimate; United States; all types incl. relatives and stepparents |
| 1959 | 102,000 | 8 | estimate; United States; all types incl. relatives and stepparents |
| 1960 | 107,000 | 8 | estimate; United States; all types incl. relatives and stepparents |
| 1961 | 114,000 | 8 | estimate; United States; all types incl. relatives and stepparents |
| 1962 | 121,000 | 8 | estimate; United States; all types incl. relatives and stepparents |
| 1963 | 127,000 | 8 | estimate; United States; all types incl. relatives and stepparents |
| 1964 | 135,000 | 8 | estimate; United States; all types incl. relatives and stepparents |
| 1965 | 142,000 | 8 | estimate; United States; all types incl. relatives and stepparents |
| 1966 | 152,000 | 8 | estimate; United States; all types incl. relatives and stepparents |
| 1967 | 158,000 | 8 | estimate; United States; all types incl. relatives and stepparents |
| 1968 | 166,000 | 8 | estimate; United States; all types incl. relatives and stepparents |
| 1969 | 171,000 | 8 | estimate; United States; all types incl. relatives and stepparents |
| 1970 | 175,000 | 8 | estimate; United States; all types incl. relatives and stepparents |
| 1971 | 169,000 | 8 | estimate; United States; all types incl. relatives and stepparents |
| 1972 | 153,000 | 8 | estimate; United States; all types incl. relatives and stepparents; Estimate developed by Maza |
| 1973 | 148,000 | 8 | estimate; United States; all types incl. relatives and stepparents; Estimate developed by Maza |
| 1974 | 138,000 | 8 | estimate; United States; all types incl. relatives and stepparents; Estimate developed by Maza |
| 1975 | 129,000 | 8 | estimate; United States; all types incl. relatives and stepparents; Estimate developed by Maza |
| 1982 | 141,861 | 9 | estimate; United States; all types incl. relatives and stepparents |
| 1987 | 118,449 | 10 | estimate; United States; all types incl. relatives and stepparents; Court and vital-records counts compiled by NCSC |
| 1989 | 121,586 | 10 | estimate; United States; all types incl. relatives and stepparents; Court and vital-records counts compiled by NCSC |
| 1990 | 118,138 | 10 | estimate; United States; all types incl. relatives and stepparents; Court and vital-records counts compiled by NCSC |
| 1991 | 118,730 | 10 | estimate; United States; all types incl. relatives and stepparents; Court and vital-records counts compiled by NCSC |
| 1992 | 126,951 | 10 | estimate; United States; all types incl. relatives and stepparents; Court and vital-records counts compiled by NCSC |
| 1996 | 119,766 | 11 | estimate; United States; all types incl. relatives and stepparents |
| 2000 | 127,630 | 10 | estimate; United States; all types incl. relatives and stepparents; Court and vital-records counts compiled by NCSC |
| 2001 | 127,407 | 10 | estimate; United States; all types incl. relatives and stepparents; Court and vital-records counts compiled by NCSC |
| 2002 | 151,332 | 11 | estimate; United States; all types incl. relatives and stepparents; Different method from NCSC series |
| 2005 | 137,225 | 12 | estimate; United States; all types incl. relatives and stepparents; Court and vital-records counts compiled by NCSC |
| 2006 | 131,503 | 12 | estimate; United States; all types incl. relatives and stepparents; Court and vital-records counts compiled by NCSC |
| 2007 | 136,001 | 12 | estimate; United States; all types incl. relatives and stepparents; Court and vital-records counts compiled by NCSC |
| 2008 | 135,813 | 12 | estimate; United States; all types incl. relatives and stepparents; Court and vital-records counts compiled by NCSC |
| 2014 | 110,373 | 13 | estimate; United States; all types incl. relatives and stepparents |
| 2019 | 121,465 | 14 | estimate; United States; all types incl. stepparent and intercountry adoptions; Includes stepparent adoptions |
| 2020 | 101,165 | 14 | estimate; United States; all types incl. stepparent and intercountry adoptions; Includes stepparent adoptions |
| 2021 | 108,426 | 14 | estimate; United States; all types incl. stepparent and intercountry adoptions; Includes stepparent adoptions |
| 2022 | 106,196 | 14 | estimate; United States; all types incl. stepparent and intercountry adoptions; Includes stepparent adoptions |
| Year | Number | Src | Status, coverage and notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990–1994 | 40 (37–44) | 15 | model estimate; World; 80% uncertainty interval; Table 1 |
| 1995–1999 | 37 | 15 | model estimate; World; Read from Figure 2; no interval in text |
| 2000–2004 | 35 | 15 | model estimate; World; Read from Figure 2; no interval in text |
| 2005–2009 | 37 | 15 | model estimate; World; Read from Figure 2; no interval in text |
| 2010–2014 | 39 | 15 | model estimate; World; Read from Figure 2; no interval in text |
| 2015–2019 | 39 (35–44) | 15 | model estimate; World; 80% uncertainty interval; Table 1; abstract gives 36-44, Table 1 and Results give 35-44 |
| Year | Number | Src | Status, coverage and notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010–2014 | 71.4M (64.6M–79.7M) | 15 | model estimate; World; women 15-49; 80% uncertainty interval; Bearak 2020 model, from the Discussion; replaces Sedgh 2016's 56.3M for the same period |
| 2015–2019 | 73.3M (66.7M–82M) | 15 | model estimate; World; women 15-49; 80% uncertainty interval; Bearak 2020 model; shown on charts as a rate, count cited in text |
| Year | Number | Src | Status, coverage and notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 36M–53M | 16 | superseded estimate; World; range of estimates; 26-31M legal plus 10-22M clandestine; Different method from Bearak 2020; do not join with it |
| 1990–1994 | 50.4M (48.6M–59.9M) | 17 | superseded estimate; World; 90% uncertainty interval; Annual average; revised model, women 15-44; Different method from Bearak 2020; do not join with it |
| 1995 | 46M | 18 | superseded estimate; World; Different method from Bearak 2020; do not join with it |
| 2003 | 41.6M | 19 | superseded estimate; World; Different method from Bearak 2020; do not join with it |
| 2008 | 43.8M | 20 | superseded estimate; World; Different method from Bearak 2020; do not join with it |
| 2010–2014 | 56.3M (52.4M–70M) | 17 | superseded estimate; World; 90% uncertainty interval; Annual average; revised model, women 15-44; Different method from Bearak 2020; do not join with it |
| Year | Number | Src | Status, coverage and notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | 19,327 | 21 | reported aggregate; Receiving countries reporting to Selman: 18 receiving countries |
| 1998 | 32,000 | 21 | reported aggregate; Receiving countries reporting to Selman: 'At least 32,000'; approximate; Approximate |
| 2001 | 36,391 | 22 | reported aggregate; Receiving countries reporting to Selman: 23 |
| 2003 | 41,538 | 23 | reported aggregate; Receiving countries reporting to Selman: 23 receiving countries |
| 2004 | 45,482 | 24 | reported aggregate; Receiving countries reporting to Selman: 23-25 receiving countries |
| 2005 | 43,868 | 24 | reported aggregate; Receiving countries reporting to Selman: 23-25 receiving countries |
| 2006 | 39,577 | 24 | reported aggregate; Receiving countries reporting to Selman: 23-25 receiving countries |
| 2007 | 37,249 | 24 | reported aggregate; Receiving countries reporting to Selman: 23-25 receiving countries |
| 2008 | 34,469 | 24 | reported aggregate; Receiving countries reporting to Selman: 23-25 receiving countries |
| 2009 | 29,425 | 24 | reported aggregate; Receiving countries reporting to Selman: 23-25 receiving countries |
| 2010 | 28,737 | 24 | reported aggregate; Receiving countries reporting to Selman: 23-25 receiving countries |
| 2011 | 23,430 | 24 | reported aggregate; Receiving countries reporting to Selman: 23-25 receiving countries |
| 2012 | 19,394 | 24 | reported aggregate; Receiving countries reporting to Selman: 23-25 receiving countries |
| 2013 | 16,147 | 24 | reported aggregate; Receiving countries reporting to Selman: 23-25 receiving countries |
| 2014 | 13,437 | 24 | reported aggregate; Receiving countries reporting to Selman: 23-25 receiving countries |
| 2015 | 12,180 | 24 | reported aggregate; Receiving countries reporting to Selman: 23-25 receiving countries |
| 2016 | 11,065 | 24 | reported aggregate; Receiving countries reporting to Selman: 23-25 receiving countries |
| 2017 | 9,383 | 24 | reported aggregate; Receiving countries reporting to Selman: 23-25 receiving countries |
| 2018 | 8,357 | 24 | reported aggregate; Receiving countries reporting to Selman: 23-25 receiving countries |
| 2019 | 6,527 | 24 | reported aggregate; Receiving countries reporting to Selman: 23-25 receiving countries |
| 2020 | 3,730 | 24 | reported aggregate; Receiving countries reporting to Selman: 23-25 receiving countries |
| 2021 | 3,975 | 24 | reported aggregate; Receiving countries reporting to Selman: 23-25 receiving countries |
| 2022 | 3,700 | 24 | reported aggregate; Receiving countries reporting to Selman: 23-25 receiving countries |
| Year | Number | Src | Status, coverage and notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 2,409 | 21 | reported; Into the United States (subset of world total); Orphan immigrant visas |
| 1975 | 5,633 | 21 | reported; Into the United States (subset of world total); Orphan immigrant visas |
| 1980 | 5,139 | 21 | reported; Into the United States (subset of world total); Orphan immigrant visas |
| 1985 | 9,285 | 21 | reported; Into the United States (subset of world total); Orphan immigrant visas |
| 1988 | 9,120 | 21 | reported; Into the United States (subset of world total); Orphan immigrant visas |
| 1989 | 8,102 | 21 | reported; Into the United States (subset of world total); Orphan immigrant visas |
| 1990 | 7,093 | 21 | reported; Into the United States (subset of world total); Orphan immigrant visas |
| 1991 | 9,050 | 25 | reported; Into the United States (subset of world total); IR-3/IR-4 orphan visas, fiscal year |
| 1992 | 6,472 | 25 | reported; Into the United States (subset of world total); IR-3/IR-4 orphan visas, fiscal year |
| 1993 | 7,377 | 25 | reported; Into the United States (subset of world total); IR-3/IR-4 orphan visas, fiscal year |
| 1994 | 8,333 | 25 | reported; Into the United States (subset of world total); IR-3/IR-4 orphan visas, fiscal year |
| 1995 | 9,679 | 25 | reported; Into the United States (subset of world total); IR-3/IR-4 orphan visas, fiscal year |
| 1996 | 11,340 | 25 | reported; Into the United States (subset of world total); IR-3/IR-4 orphan visas, fiscal year |
| 1997 | 13,621 | 25 | reported; Into the United States (subset of world total); IR-3/IR-4 orphan visas, fiscal year |
| 1998 | 15,583 | 25 | reported; Into the United States (subset of world total); IR-3/IR-4 orphan visas, fiscal year |
| 1999 | 16,369 | 25 | reported; Into the United States (subset of world total); IR-3/IR-4 orphan visas, fiscal year |
| 2000 | 18,477 | 25 | reported; Into the United States (subset of world total); IR-3/IR-4 orphan visas, fiscal year |
| 2001 | 19,224 | 25 | reported; Into the United States (subset of world total); IR-3/IR-4 orphan visas, fiscal year |
| 2002 | 21,378 | 25 | reported; Into the United States (subset of world total); IR-3/IR-4 orphan visas, fiscal year |
| 2003 | 21,616 | 25 | reported; Into the United States (subset of world total); IR-3/IR-4 orphan visas, fiscal year |
| 2004 | 22,988 | 24 | reported; Into the United States (subset of world total); State Department, fiscal year |
| 2005 | 22,735 | 24 | reported; Into the United States (subset of world total); State Department, fiscal year |
| 2006 | 20,671 | 24 | reported; Into the United States (subset of world total); State Department, fiscal year |
| 2007 | 19,605 | 24 | reported; Into the United States (subset of world total); State Department, fiscal year |
| 2008 | 17,467 | 24 | reported; Into the United States (subset of world total); State Department, fiscal year |
| 2009 | 12,753 | 24 | reported; Into the United States (subset of world total); State Department, fiscal year |
| 2010 | 12,149 | 24 | reported; Into the United States (subset of world total); State Department, fiscal year |
| 2011 | 9,320 | 24 | reported; Into the United States (subset of world total); State Department, fiscal year |
| 2012 | 8,668 | 24 | reported; Into the United States (subset of world total); State Department, fiscal year |
| 2013 | 7,094 | 24 | reported; Into the United States (subset of world total); State Department, fiscal year |
| 2014 | 6,441 | 24 | reported; Into the United States (subset of world total); State Department, fiscal year |
| 2015 | 5,648 | 24 | reported; Into the United States (subset of world total); State Department, fiscal year |
| 2016 | 5,372 | 24 | reported; Into the United States (subset of world total); State Department, fiscal year |
| 2017 | 4,714 | 24 | reported; Into the United States (subset of world total); State Department, fiscal year |
| 2018 | 4,059 | 24 | reported; Into the United States (subset of world total); State Department, fiscal year |
| 2019 | 2,970 | 24 | reported; Into the United States (subset of world total); State Department, fiscal year |
| 2020 | 1,622 | 24 | reported; Into the United States (subset of world total); State Department, fiscal year |
| 2021 | 1,785 | 24 | reported; Into the United States (subset of world total); State Department, fiscal year |
| 2022 | 1,517 | 24 | reported; Into the United States (subset of world total); State Department, fiscal year |
| 2023 | 1,275 | 26 | reported; Into the United States (subset of world total); Fiscal year |
| 2024 | 1,172 | 27 | reported; Into the United States (subset of world total); Fiscal year |
| 2025 | 973 | 28 | reported; Into the United States (subset of world total); Fiscal year |
References
Sources
- The Public Health Impact of Legal Abortion: 30 Years Later, Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health (2003), citing Calderone (1958)
- Gold, Lessons from Before Roe: Will Past Be Prologue?, Guttmacher Report on Public Policy (2003)
- CDC, Abortion Surveillance: Annual Summary 1972 (1974)
- Pew Research Center, from Guttmacher Institute and CDC (2026)
- CDC, Abortion Surveillance - United States, 2022 (MMWR 2024)
- Guttmacher Institute, Despite Bans, Number of Abortions in the United States Increased in 2023 (Mar 2024, updated May 2024)
- Guttmacher Institute, Monthly Abortion Provision Study, full-year 2025 release (Mar 2026)
- Maza, Adoption Trends: 1944-1975, US Children's Bureau (1984)
- National Committee for Adoption (1985), reported in The Battalion, Nov 20 1985
- Child Welfare Information Gateway, How Many Children Were Adopted in 2000 and 2001? (2004), incl. Flango & Flango (1995)
- NCFA, Adoption Factbook IV (2007), reported in The Washington Times
- Child Welfare Information Gateway, How Many Children Were Adopted in 2007 and 2008? (2011)
- NCFA, Adoption: By the Numbers (2017)
- NCFA, Adoption by the Numbers: 2021 & 2022 (2025)
- Bearak et al., Lancet Global Health (2020), Table 1, Figure 2 and Discussion
- Henshaw, Induced Abortion: A World Review, 1990, Family Planning Perspectives 22(2)
- Sedgh et al., The Lancet (2016)
- Henshaw, Singh & Haas, The Incidence of Abortion Worldwide, Int. Family Planning Perspectives (1999)
- Sedgh et al., The Lancet (2007), Guttmacher/WHO release
- Sedgh et al., The Lancet (2012), Lancet release
- Selman, Intercountry Adoption in the New Millennium (2000/2002)
- Selman, The Global Decline of Intercountry Adoption, Social Policy and Society (2012), Table 1
- Selman, global ICA tables 2003-2009 (revised Mar 2011), via Family Helper
- Selman, Global Statistics for Intercountry Adoption 2004-2022, HCCH (2024)
- US State Department, Immigrant visas issued to orphans, Table XIII
- Pew Research Center, from State Department data (2025)
- US State Department, FY2024 Annual Report on Intercountry Adoption, Table 1
- US State Department, FY2025 Annual Report on Intercountry Adoption, Table 1
Compiled October 2026. Figures are as published by each source. No interpolation was added for these charts; some annual figures were estimated or interpolated by their sources.