Public support for legal abortion has remained relatively stable over the past several years, with 63% of Americans favoring legal abortion in all or most cases, while 36% believe it should be illegal. This comes up in a new survey from PEW Research Centre.
RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION
- White evangelical Protestants: 73% believe abortion should be illegal.
- Religiously unaffiliated Americans: 86% support legal abortion.
- Black Protestants: 71% favor legal abortion.
- White nonevangelical Protestants: 64% support legal abortion.
- Catholics: 59% support legal abortion.
PARTY IDENTIFICATION
- Republicans and Republican-leaning independents: 57% prefer illegal abortion.
- Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents: 85% support legal abortion.
- Conservative Republicans: 71% prefer illegal abortion.
- Moderate and liberal Republicans: 67% support legal abortion.
- Liberal Democrats: 96% support legal abortion.
- Conservative and moderate Democrats: 76% support legal abortion.
GENDER
- Men: 61% support legal abortion.
- Women: 64% support legal abortion.
RACE AND ETHNICITY
- Asian adults: 76% support legal abortion.
- Black adults: 73% support legal abortion.
- White adults: 60% support legal abortion.
- Hispanic adults: 59% support legal abortion.
AGE
- Adults under age 30: 76% support legal abortion.
- Adults in their 30s and 40s: 61% support legal abortion.
- Adults in their 50s and early 60s: 57% support legal abortion.
- Adults ages 65 and older: 59% support legal abortion.
EDUCATION LEVEL
- College graduates: 68% support legal abortion.
- Some college education: 64% support legal abortion.
- High school degree or less education: 56% support legal abortion.
These findings illustrate the complex interplay between personal beliefs, values, and societal factors in shaping attitudes toward abortion.
