Who has abortions in Illinois? 2020 state data reveals details into the procedure
Although laws that significantly restrict abortion access currently stand in Missouri, Kentucky, Texas and other states, Illinois has expanded abortion rights in recent years.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker said the state would continue to serve as a location where patients from out of state can seek reproductive procedures. Abortion will remain legal in Illinois even if Roe v. Wade is overturned, the governor said.
Abortion is legal in Illinois up to the point when the fetus is considered viable, but most pregnancy terminations happen much earlier in gestation.
Also, pregnancies can be terminated in Illinois past the point of fetus viability if the life or health of the patient is endangered.
But who is seeking abortions in Illinois? This demographic data from the Illinois state government provides some insight.
Overview: Who receives abortions in the state of IL?
There were 46,243 abortions recorded in Illinois in 2020, the most recent year for which data were available.
Most patients were from the state, with 9,686 people traveling from beyond Illinois for the procedure. The most common state people traveled from was Missouri, followed by Indiana.
Unmarried patients were the most common, but married people accounted for 4,037 terminated pregnancies. The data show 1,731 individuals had an unknown marital status.
The age group with the highest number of abortions was 25 to 29 year olds, with 20 to 24 year olds following. Young teenagers made up a much smaller portion of patients, with 1,092 pregnancies terminated for those ages 15 to 17.
Planned Parenthood in Illinois performs in-clinic abortions up to 21 weeks and six days of gestation, but the majority of procedures are done at fewer than eight weeks. Numbers drop sharply as pregnancies progress, with only 3,585 abortions occurring between 12 to 15 weeks gestation.
St. Clair County had a higher number of abortions than most counties, with 1,039 procedures performed in the area. Chicago, Cook, Will and DuPage were among the counties with higher numbers, as well.
Here’s the 2020 data on abortion in the state of Illinois
Patient age
Younger than 15: 88
15 to 17: 1,092
18 to 19: 2,683
20 to 24: 13,022
25 to 29: 14,343
30 to 34: 8,809
35 to 39: 4,554
40 to 44: 1,330
45 and older: 108
Age unknown: 214
Gestational age
Fewer than eight weeks: 26,755
Eight to 11 weeks: 12,899
12 to 15 weeks: 3,585
16 weeks or later: 1,789
Unknown gestational age: 1,215
Residency status
Illinois: 36,174
Missouri: 6,578
Indiana: 1,878
Wisconsin: 531
Kentucky: 142
Tennessee: 108
Arkansas: 74
Iowa: 71
Michigan: 56
Ohio: Fewer than 50
Type of procedure
Antiprogestins: 23,765
Suction curettage: 17,327
Dilation and evacuation: 4,646
Unknown: 356
Other: 225
Total number abortions in years 2010 to 2020
2020: 46,243
2019: 46,517
2018: 42,441
2017: 39,329
2016: 38,382
2015: 39,856
2014: 38,472
2013: 40,750
2012: 43,203
2011: 41,324
2010: 41,859
More information about pregnancy terminations in Illinois, including data from earlier years, can be found online.
