Abortion Bans Lead to Rise in Births, Research Shows

States with abortion restrictions see a 2.3% higher average fertility rate, resulting in approximately 32,000 additional births in the first half of 2023.

Births have increased in states with abortion bans, with an average fertility rate 2.3% higher than states where abortion is not restricted, leading to about 32,000 more births than expected in the first half of 2023.
Nearly a quarter of people seeking an abortion in the United States were unable to get one due to bans that took effect after the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision.
States with longer travel times to the nearest abortion providers saw the most significant increase in fertility rates, including a 5.1% increase in Texas and a 4.4% increase in Mississippi.
Abortion bans have especially affected Hispanic women, with a 4.7% increase in fertility rate in the first half of 2023, as well as younger women, with a 3.3% increase among those in their early 20s.
Despite an increase in the number of abortions in the year post-Dobbs, rising birth rates could indicate that unmet need persists.