Abortion divides America, as it has for decades. Just over half the country favors allowing abortion in principle, though many of those want some restrictions. And just under half want to outlaw it entirely or only permit it in extreme circumstances.
Most Americans reject either allowing or forbidding abortion in all circumstances. 13% would outlaw all abortions; 23% would allow all.
The latest Economist/YouGov Poll demonstrates the political impact of opinions on abortion. Seven in ten Democrats and six in ten independents would support the right to have an abortion in many or most circumstances; but nearly six in ten Republicans oppose that. But there are few differences by gender or by age in this poll.
When do you think abortion should be legal?
| Party | Gender | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Abortion should always be legal. There should be no restrictions on abortion. | 23% | 32% | 9% | 25% | 24% | 22% |
Abortion should be legal, but with some restrictions (such as for minors or late-term abortions). | 34% | 38% | 35% | 35% | 33% | 36% |
Abortion should only be legal in special circumstances, such as when the life of the mother is in danger. | 30% | 19% | 44% | 29% | 30% | 29% |
Abortion should be illegal. It should never be allowed. | 13% | 11% | 13% | 10% | 13% | 12% |
Abortion should always be legal. There should be no restrictions on abortion. | 23% | 27% | 22% | 20% | ||
Abortion should be legal, but with some restrictions (such as for minors or late-term abortions). | 34% | 31% | 35% | 37% | ||
Abortion should only be legal in special circumstances, such as when the life of the mother is in danger. | 30% | 28% | 29% | 37% | ||
Abortion should be illegal. It should never be allowed. | 13% | 15% | 14% | 6% | ||
There is more of a consensus for setting some limits, especially when it comes to permitting minors to have an abortion. Two out of three believe parents should be notified before a minor has an abortion; nearly as many say parents should give their consent to that abortion. 62% support requiring counseling before a woman has an abortion. A majority would also favor telling the woman the gestational age of the fetus. But there is more division when it comes to other restrictions: requiring a waiting period or ultrasounds of the fetus.
Do you favor or oppose the following policies?(For half of respondents question referred to "getting an abortion," for half it referred to "terminating a pregnancy")
| Favor | Neither favor, nor oppose | Oppose | |
|---|---|---|---|
Require minors to notify their parents before [getting an abortion/terminating a pregnancy] | 67% | 18% | 15% |
Require minors to get their parents' permission before [getting an abortion/terminating a pregnancy] | 62% | 20% | 18% |
Require a 'waiting period' before [getting an abortion/terminating a pregnancy] | 57% | 24% | 30% |
Require counseling before [getting an abortion/terminating a pregnancy] | 62% | 20% | 17% |
Require women be told the gestational age of the fetus | 51% | 29% | 20% |
Require that women be offered ultrasound images of the fetus | 39% | 31% | 30% |
Opinions about these restrictions on abortion appear little affected by how abortions are described. In the Economist/YouGov Poll, half the sample was asked about restrictions on a woman “getting an abortion,” the other half about restrictions for “terminating a pregnancy.” Opinions were almost identical for the two wordings.
