The number of abortions reported in Florida during the first eight months of this year was nearly 13 percent lower than during the same period in 2022 and 2023, as a law preventing abortions after six weeks of pregnancy has led to fewer procedures.
Newly released state data showed that 44,771 abortions had been reported in 2024 as of Monday. That was down from 51,318 abortions reported in early September 2022 and 51,253 abortions reported at the beginning of September 2023, according to numbers compiled in the past by The News Service of Florida.
The six-week abortion limit began May 1, after a Florida Supreme Court opinion cleared the way for it to take effect.
During the first four months of this year, before the limit took effect, the number of abortions reported — 22,409 — was little changed from the number reported during the same period in 2023 — 22,516.
But monthly reports posted this summer by the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration showed the number of abortions dipping after the six-week limit took effect.
Abortion clinics are required to submit reports to the Agency for Health Care Administration within 30 days after the end of each month. Lags in reporting made it somewhat unclear when the six-week abortion limit initially started affecting the totals.
The effects can be seen, however, in year-to-year comparisons.
This year, the 44,771 abortions reported as of Sept. 2 represented a 4,272-abortion increase over the 40,499 procedures reported by the state as of Aug. 1.
In 2022, reports from a comparable period showed a 7,617-abortion increase; in 2023, reports showed a 6,778-abortion increase.
The new Agency for Health Care Administration data showed Florida has seen a significant drop in the number of out-of-state residents getting abortions in the state.
During the first eight months of 2023, a reported 4,656 out-of-state residents obtained abortions in Florida; this year, the number was 3,247.
Of the 44,771 abortions reported so far this year, 41,803 were in the first trimester of pregnancy, 2,965 were in the second trimester, and three were in the third trimester, according to Agency for Health Care Administration. Two of the third-trimester abortions were performed because of “fatal fetal abnormality,” while one was performed because of what an agency report described as “serious fetal genetic defect, deformity or abnormality.”
Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Republican-controlled Legislature approved the six-week abortion limit in 2023 after passing a 15-week limit in 2022. The state Supreme Court on April 1 rejected a constitutional challenge by abortion-rights supporters to the 15-week limit.
That ruling also had the effect of allowing the six-week limit to take effect May 1.
Voters in November will decide whether to pass a ballot measure that would enshrine abortion rights in the Florida Constitution. That proposal says, in part, that no “law shall prohibit, penalize, delay, or restrict abortion before viability or when necessary to protect the patient’s health, as determined by the patient’s healthcare provider.”
Abortion-rights supporters have turned to ballot initiatives in Florida and other states after the U.S. Supreme Court in 2022 struck down the landmark Roe v. Wade decision and left abortion issues to be decided in states.
–Jim Saunders, News Service of Florida
PC Mom says
Watch—infant/toddler deaths will increase and everyone will wonder why. Nevermind most of the babies being born who weren’t wanted end up on government assistance for their entire lives are far more likely to end up in prison. What happened 18-20 years after Roe vs. Wade? The crime rate and prison population declined—-sharply. Now it’ll go the other way. Start saving money for all of the prison expansions the state will need in about 17-18 years.
Nancy N. says
Watch – all the pro-lifers will start whining about all the kids that they forced people to have that are on welfare and state insurance because their parents can’t afford them.
Deborah Coffey says
We just want to know how many women are dead because of this abortion law. How many?
Another one lost says
How many babies are alive because of this abortion law?
Nancy N. says
Once again, a pro-lifer proving they don’t give a crap about a life once it’s born. Especially if it has a uterus.
again, I say says
then what? Alive doesn’t necessarily equate to living. That baby is alive, but where is he/she? Foster care? State funded facility? Ignored, beaten, starved, put in a cage? Homeless? Is he/she loved and supported? Does the baby have a family? Are you adopting to make sure the child born or rape or incest has a wonderful family upbringing and all the best that can be offered? Are they another child on welfare? Getting teeth pulled because it is cheaper than dental work on a cavity? Is anyone contributing to children growing with purpose, self-respect, community responsibility, and emotional maturity? Have you made sure these babies don’t grow up in environments of drugs, abuse, gangs, violence, etc? The human spirit is resilient, for sure, but if you are only counting numbers of those that are alive, I think you’ve missed the bigger picture of what life really is!
Deborah Coffey says
Hate to tell you, no “babies” are being killed…only mothers. And, if you really cared about babies, why do you continue to vote for people that take away SNAP, welfare, Medicaid, school lunch programs and want to put concealed weapons in every hand across 50 states (Agenda 47 and Project 2025)? Do you just want babies born but don’t care how long they stay alive?
Kennan says
Of course abortions are down 13%. You made it illegal after six weeks! Most women don’t even know they are pregnant until then or later. Anyway, I feel a little silly even weighing in on this considering I have a penis.
I only wish women would make the rules on this one. If they did there would be way less controversy on this.
Way less hypocrisy in regards to the unborn child only to tell them later….
YOUR ON YOUR OWN!!!!
Tough call all the way around, but if you’re a DUDE you need to shut up on this one.
Men should support says
I think women could use male support— men should care about women’s health and support their tough choices. They should be visible and let the government know that they find the issue just as important. After all, no women became pregnant on her own….
Endless dark money llc says
F that I won’t stay silent while a bunch of crooks take away rights of women and sell themselves false information to justify their horrid policies. Vote the gop and all their cronies out at every level! End the stranglehold! Lock them up!!