Americans are becoming more pro-life, poll shows

A new poll shows public support for legal abortion has declined in the United States over the past year. 

The Associated Press and NORC Center for Public Affairs Research conducted a July 10-14 survey of 1,437 U.S. adults. The share of adults who think abortion should be illegal in “all cases” or “most cases” increased by 7% since June 2024, according to pollsters. 

The poll found 36% of Americans think abortion should always or mostly be illegal. When the same pollster asked the question around the same time last year, only 29% of Americans thought this way. 

The AP/NORC survey also found support for legal abortion declined in each of four hypothetical scenarios presented to respondents. 

Notably, 50% of respondents said their state should allow abortion when “someone does not want to be pregnant for any reason.” This decreased from about 60% in 2024. 

This is the highest level of pro-life sentiment reported in an AP/NORC poll since the leak of the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization Supreme Court decision in May 2022. 

The findings come a month after Gallup released its annual survey on abortion attitudes. Gallup reported an increase in the share of Americans who identify as “pro-life” and in the number of adults who believe abortion is “morally wrong.” 

The Gallup poll found 43% identify as pro-life and 51% as pro-choice; last year, those numbers were 41% and 54%, respectively. 

Despite the shift, most Americans continue to support legal abortion in many cases. The AP/NORC poll found 64% of adults say abortion should be legal in all or most cases.  

This is similar to levels seen before Roe v. Wade was overturned in 2022, and slightly down from 70% in June 2024. 

Support remains high for legal abortion in limited circumstances. At least 80% of respondents said their state should allow abortion if a pregnancy resulted from rape or incest, if the woman’s life is endangered, or if a fetal abnormality would prevent survival outside the womb. 

Dr. Michael New, a fellow at the Witherspoon Institute, celebrated the pro-life shift. 

“This new AP/NORC poll is further evidence that Ramesh Ponnuru’s insight was correct – that public backlash toward Dobbs is fading,” he wrote. “Considering the success of many pro-life candidates in 2024 and the passing of a budget that defunded Planned Parenthood, pro-lifers have good reasons to be optimistic about the future.” 

Currently, 12 states ban abortion, while another four ban it after six weeks.