More than half getting abortions are poor, single, already mothers, often using birth control

Nearly 1 million women get abortions every year. Most say they made that choice because they couldn’t afford a baby or having one would interfere with a job, caring for existing children or other responsibilities.

Who are these women?

—More than half — 54 per cent — say they were using birth control around the time they got pregnant.

—Most are unmarried, in their 20s and 30s; 18 per cent are teens.

—More than half are poor.

—Three-fourths identify with a religion, mostly Protestant; more than 1 in 4 are Catholic.

—Nearly 60 per cent have at least one child.

—More than one-third are white, 30 per cent are black and 25 per cent are Hispanic.

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Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Guttmacher Institute.