Figure is recognized to be hundreds of thousands of abortions too low: CDC Figures Show Slight Abortion Increase for 2002.(Centers for Disease Control)

In its annual Abortion Surveillance, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that there were 854,122 legal induced abortions in 2002, an increase of just 637, or 0.1%, over the number reported by the CDC for 2001.

The CDC's estimate is based on reports from state health departments. However some, such as California, do not report abortions to the CDC, and others vary in the quality of their data collection. Thus the figure is recognized to be hundreds of thousands of abortions too low.

By contrast the Alan Guttmacher Institute (AGI), which surveys abortionists directly, reports a number closer to 1.3 million. Still, because the CDC collects and reports its data every year (AGI surveys are sporadic) and regularly tracks demographic and medical data, its numbers are considered useful in identifying and following certain trends.

There are factors, however, which indicate that this reported increase may reflect better reporting rather than an actual increase.

Of the states (plus Washington, D.C.) that reported, more actually showed decreases (27) in their abortion totals from 2001 to 2002 than increases (20). Two states, Colorado and Arizona, which made special efforts to enforce or encourage compliance with state reporting regulations saw increases of 3,124 and 2,375, respectively, themselves more than accounting for the reported increase. This does not mean that fewer abortions actually occurred than what the states or the CDC reports for 2002, only that previous reports from those states missed some abortions and may have made national totals appear lower in earlier years.

Abortion Rate

When calculating the abortion rate, the CDC means the number of abortions per 1,000 women of reproductive age (ages 1544). That number was the same in 200216 per 1,000as it was in 2001. This remains the lowest figure from any year since 1973, when Roe v. Wade was decided.1