Abortion Statistics

In order to grasp the full reality of abortion I find it necessary to remind myself of the facts and statistics that are the direct result of the practice. Since I am very much wired to forget the world and tend to focus singularly on my own troubles, I find that a brisk walk down memory lane to review the extensive and bloody grave yard of abortion provides the best stimulation for me to keep on racking my brain for different methods to fight to practice. But most importantly, aside from statistical and strong pictoral evidence, I find that I, along with all other Christians, have a Biblical warrant from God Himself to fight the atrocities of abortion. Although the Bible does not mention abortion specifically, there are many verses that speak very directly on the subject of rescuing and preserving the lives of the innocent among us. For example, one might use Proverbs 24 in reference to the support of pro-life advocacy :

"Rescue those who are being taken away to death; hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter. If you say, "Behold, we did not know this," does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it, and will he not repay man according to his work?" (vs 11, 12)

The above verse not only urges us to "rescue those who are being taken away to death," but offers a strong warning about claiming ignorance as an excuse for inaction. God knows the secrets of men's hearts, and none can escape judgement or discipline through trying to deceive him.

Below are listed some shocking statistics in reference to abortion in North America and the world in general. I read and recount them with a sober heart, asking myself, and inquiring of God, what must be done to put an end to this "holocaust of our times." 

Worldwide 

Number of abortions per year - Approximately 42 million

Number of abortions per day - Approximately 115, 000

Where do abortions occur? 83% of all abortions occur in developed countries and 17% are obtained in developing countries 

(@ Copyright 1996-2008 - Information courtesy of The Alan Guttmacher Institute {www.agi-usa.org}) 

The USA

Number of abortions per year - 1.37 million (as of 1996)

Number of abortions performed daily - Approximately 3,700

Who's having abortions? 

- 52% of women obtaining abortions in the US are younger then 25

- Women aged 20-24 obtain 32% of all abortions

- Teenagers obtain 20% of all abortions

- Girls under 15 years of age account for 1.2% of all US abortions 

- 64.4%  of all abortions are performed on unmarried women

- Married women account for 18.3% of all abortions

- Divorced women account for the remaining 9.4%

- Black women are more then 3 times as likely then white women to have an abortion

- Women who identify themselves as Protestants obtain 37.4% of all abortions in the USA

- Catholic women account for 31.3%

- Jewish women, 1.3%

- Women with no religious affiliation obtain 23.7% of all abortions 

- Shockingly, 18% of all abortions are performed on women who identify themselves as

 Evangelical Christians 

Why do women have abortions?

- 1% of abortions occur due to rape or incest

- 6% of abortions occur because of health problems regarding the mother or her child

- The remaining 93% of abortions occur because of social reasons. For example - the child to be born is unwanted or an inconvenience 

What is the result of an abortion?

An estimated 43% of all women will have at least one abortion by the time they reach the age of forty-five, with 47% of all abortions performed to women who have had previous abortions. 

These facts are and pictures are not only meant to convict us of our own inaction, but should also be considered as fuel to spur us on to good deeds of seeking reformation. Most importantly we should pray for God's mercy in opening the eyes of those in authority over us so that governments and entire countries will be enlightened to the destruction of abortion. The blessed result of, one day, being able to look back into our own history (as an entire population) and lament with sighs and tears that we knowingly killed the most vulnerable amongst us for the sake of convenience, may yet be ours to experience. There is always hope. That is my comfort and my prayer. 

A quote by William Wilberforce, lover of justice and historic abolitionist, illustrates the desires of his heart on the matter of abolition:

"So enormous, so dreadful, so irremediable did the (slave) trade's wickedness appear that my own mind was completely made up for abolition. Let the consequences be what they would: I from this time determined that I would never rest until I had effected its abolition."

Strong words indeed; words that can be easily applied to the fight against the continuation of abortion in our day. Let us each each take up the cause of abolition on any and every issue that is presented to us by God with such an attitude as the man, William Wilberforce.