Health
Nearly 25% of All Out-of-State Abortions Took Place in Illinois Last Year: Study
Abortion-rights activists rally outside the Supreme Court in Washington, Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (Jose Luis Magana / AP Photo, file)
In 2024, nearly a quarter of all out-of-state abortions took place in Illinois, as the total number of abortions in the state slightly decreased compared to the previous year, according to a recent study by a pro-abortion rights research policy organization.
On a national level, the study found a less than 1% increase in the number of people obtaining an abortion from 2023 to 2024, according to estimates from the Guttmacher Institute, which looked at states without total abortion bans. However, the number of people in the U.S. who crossed state lines for an abortion dropped by nearly 9%.
About 35,000 out-of-state patients traveled to Illinois for an abortion last year, accounting for 39% of all abortions provided in the state, according to the study. Illinois saw a 7% decrease in the number of patients traveling from out of state for an abortion.
Overall, there was an estimated total of 89,770 abortions in Illinois last year, a 1% decrease from the previous year, according to the study’s estimates.
The Guttmacher Institute study, based on a monthly survey of providers, is the latest look at how the abortion landscape in the U.S. has evolved since the U.S. Supreme Court reversed Roe v. Wade in 2022. The ruling eliminated the constitutional right to abortion, opening the door to state bans and restrictions.
Illinois continues to serve more out-of-state abortion patients than any other state. The study points to the state’s geographic location and the efforts of state government, abortion providers and support organizations that create a robust infrastructure for abortion care, allowing it to be an access point for the South and Midwest.
“Illinois is carrying a staggering share of the national need for abortion care – and the latest data confirms what we see at the Chicago Abortion Fund every single day,” Chicago Abortion Fund Executive Director Megan Jeyifo said in a statement.
The Chicago Abortion Fund, which provides financial, logistical and travel support for people seeking abortion care, fielded more than 16,000 requests from people in 41 states last year. The organization didn’t turn away anyone who was relying on Illinois for care, according to Jeyifo.
Currently, 12 states enforce abortion bans with limited exceptions at all stages of pregnancy. Four more states have bans that kick in after about six weeks, which is before many people know they’re pregnant.
Guttmacher Institute researchers note the study is an underestimate of the total number of abortions nationally. The study does not include any abortions provided in states with total bans.
The study also does not include self-managed abortions, such as people obtaining abortion pills from community networks, foreign pharmacies or through telehealth from medical providers in states that have laws intended to protect those who send pills into places with bans.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Contact Eunice Alpasan: [email protected]
