Edition: U.S. / Global

Politics

Abortion Restrictions in States

Forty-one states have enacted abortion restrictions at different stages of pregnancy. The chart below shows at which point after a woman’s last menstrual period that state laws ban abortion. Each bar’s height is proportional to the state’s population. Related Article »

36

32

28

24

20

16

12

8

WKS.

4

36

32

28

24

20

16

12

8

WKS.

4

36

32

28

24

20

16

12

8

WKS.

4

36

32

28

24

20

16

12

8

WKS.

4

36

32

28

24

20

16

12

8

WKS.

4

36

32

28

24

20

16

12

8

WKS.

4

36

32

28

24

20

16

12

8

WKS.

Starting in August, abortions prohibited more than

6 weeks after a woman’s last menstrual period.

4

Nine states and the District of Columbia do not have specific laws prohibiting abortion after a certain point in pregnancy.

Three states ban third-trimester abortions.

More than half of Americans live in states where abortion is prohibited at about 24 to 26 weeks of pregnancy. In many of the states, the law bans abortion when a fetus is deemed viable outside the womb, which is generally in the range of 24 to 26 weeks.

Since 2010, a number of states have enacted bills that ban abortion at 22 weeks, based on the theory that a fetus can feel pain at that point. This notion is not accepted by mainstream medical organizations. Courts have blocked the laws in Georgia and Idaho.

Arizona implemented a law that bans abortion once 20 weeks have passed since a woman’s last menstrual period, or 18 weeks after fertilization. The law was blocked by a federal appellate panel last month.

 

 

Arkansas adopted a law in March banning abortion at 12 weeks of pregnancy, when a fetal hearbeat can typically be detected by abdominal ultrasound. The law was enacted over Gov. Mike Beebe’s veto. A federal judge in May temporarily blocked enforcement of the law.

Gov. Jack Dalrymple of North Dakota signed a law in March that bans abortion as early as six weeks after a woman’s last menstrual period, when a fetal heartbeat can first be detected using a transvaginal probe. The law is scheduled to take effect in August.

No restriction

9 states and D.C., 28 million population

28 weeks

3 states, 36 million population

24 to 26 weeks

26 states, 190 million population

22 weeks

8 states, 35 million population

20 weeks

2 states, 16 million population

12 weeks

1 state, 3 million population

1 state, 672,591 population

6 weeks

West Virginia

Vermont

Oregon

New Mexico

New Jersey

New Hampshire

Mississippi

D.C.

Colorado

Alaska

Virginia

Texas

Iowa

Nevada

South Carolina

Wyoming

Wisconsin

Washington

Utah

Tennessee

South Dakota

Rhode Island

Pennsylvania

Ohio

New York

Montana

Missouri

Minnesota

Michigan

Massachusetts

Maryland

Maine

Kentucky

Illinois

Hawaii

Florida

Delaware

Connecticut

California

Oklahoma

Nebraska

Louisiana

Kansas

Indiana

*

Idaho

*

Georgia

Alabama

North Carolina

*

Arizona

*

Arkansas

North Dakota

36

32

28

24

20

16

12

8

WKS.

Starting in August, abortions prohibited more than

6 weeks after a woman’s last menstrual period.

4

Gov. Jack Dalrymple of North Dakota signed a law in March that bans abortion as early as six weeks after a woman’s last menstrual period, when a fetal heartbeat can first be detected using a transvaginal probe. The law is scheduled to take effect in August.

1 state, 672,591 population

6 weeks

North Dakota

36

32

28

24

20

16

12

8

WKS.

4

Nine states and the District of Columbia do not have specific laws prohibiting abortion after a certain point in pregnancy.

No restriction

9 states and D.C., 28 million population

West Virginia

Vermont

Oregon

New Mexico

New Jersey

New Hampshire

Mississippi

D.C.

Colorado

Alaska

36

32

28

24

20

16

12

8

WKS.

4

Three states ban third-trimester abortions.

28 weeks

3 states, 36 million population

Virginia

Texas

Iowa

36

32

28

24

20

16

12

8

WKS.

4

24 to 26 weeks

26 states, 190 million population

Nevada

South Carolina

Wyoming

Wisconsin

Washington

Utah

Tennessee

South Dakota

Rhode Island

Pennsylvania

Ohio

New York

Montana

Missouri

Minnesota

Michigan

Massachusetts

Maryland

Maine

Kentucky

Illinois

Hawaii

Florida

Delaware

Connecticut

California

More than half of Americans live in states where abortion is prohibited at about 24 to 26 weeks of pregnancy. In many of the states, the law bans abortion when a fetus is deemed viable outside the womb, which is generally in the range of 24 to 26 weeks.

36

32

28

24

20

16

12

8

WKS.

4

Arkansas adopted a law in March banning abortion at 12 weeks of pregnancy, when a fetal hearbeat can typically be detected by abdominal ultrasound. The law was enacted over Gov. Mike Beebe’s veto. A federal judge in May temporarily blocked enforcement of the law.

12 weeks

1 state, 3 million population

*

Arkansas

36

32

28

24

20

16

12

8

WKS.

4

Arizona implemented a law that bans abortion once 20 weeks have passed since a woman’s last menstrual period, or 18 weeks after fertilization. The law was blocked by a federal appellate panel last month.

 

 

20 weeks

2 states, 16 million population

North Carolina

*

Arizona

36

32

28

24

20

16

12

8

WKS.

4

Since 2010, a number of states have enacted bills that ban abortion at 22 weeks, based on the theory that a fetus can feel pain at that point. This notion is not accepted by mainstream medical organizations. Courts have blocked the laws in Georgia and Idaho.

22 weeks

8 states, 35 million population

Oklahoma

Nebraska

Louisiana

Kansas

Indiana

*

Idaho

*

Georgia

Alabama