Societal attitudes towards abortion

• South Africa: A 2003 Human Sciences Research Council study examined moral attitudes among South Africans: 56% said they believed that abortion is wrong even if there is a strong chance of serious defect in the fetus, while 70% said they believed that abortion is wrong if done primarily because the parents have low income and may be unable to afford another child.Rule, Stephen. (2004). [http://www.hsrc.ac.za/about/HSRCReview/Vol2No3/index.html?rights_or_wrongs.html~content Rights or wrongs? Public attitudes towards moral values] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061030152257/http://www.hsrc.ac.za/about/HSRCReview/Vol2No3/index.html?rights_or_wrongs.html~content |date=2006-10-30 }}. HSRC Review, 2 (3). Retrieved March 25, 2007.

File:02020 0689 (2) Protest against abortion restriction in Kraków, October 2020.jpg were caused by severe changes to abortion laws.]]

• Austria: A May 2007 OGM survey examined Austrian opinion on the morality of abortion, asking, "Personally, do you think of abortion as a moral issue?" 20% of those polled replied, "yes, always", 59% replied "yes, under certain circumstances", 19% replied "no, never", and 2% replied that they were "not sure"."{{usurped|1=[https://archive.today/20080311050934/http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/index.cfm/fuseaction/viewItem/itemID/15961 Abortion Sometimes a Moral Issue, Say Austrians]}}." (June 3, 2007). Angus Reid Global Monitor. Retrieved June 20, 2007.
• Czech Republic: A May 2007 CVVM poll found that 72% believe abortion in the Czech Republic should be allowed "at the request of the woman", 19% that it should be allowed for "societal reasons", 5% that it should be allowed only if "a woman's health is at risk", 1% that it should be "banned"."[http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/index.cfm/fuseaction/viewItem/itemID/16054 Most in Czech Republic Support Abortion Rights]{{dead link|date=May 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}." (June 10, 2007). Angus Reid Global Monitor. Retrieved June 20, 2007.
• Republic of Ireland: A January 2010 Irish Examiner/RedC poll about abortion in Ireland found that 60% of 18- to 35-year-olds felt abortion should be legalised, and 10% had been in a relationship in which an abortion had taken place.{{cite web|url=http://www.irishexaminer.com/home/survey-60-in-favour-of-legal-abortion-110224.html|title=Survey: 60% in favour of legal abortion|date=21 January 2010|access-date=19 July 2017}} A January 2010 opinion poll conducted by Millward Brown Landsdowne for the Pro Life Campaign found 70% of people questioned favored constitutional protection for the unborn under circumstances where intervention to save the mother's life was legal.{{cite web |url=http://www.prolifecampaign.ie/userfiles/PLC_Opinion_Poll_Published_15_04_2010-1%5B1%5D%282%29.jpg |title=Archived copy |access-date=2011-12-01 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120316063537/http://www.prolifecampaign.ie/userfiles/PLC_Opinion_Poll_Published_15_04_2010-1%5B1%5D%282%29.jpg |archive-date=2012-03-16 }} A January 2013 Paddy Power/Red C poll of 1,002 adults found that 29% of voters believed that there should be a constitutional amendment to allow abortion "in any case where the woman requests it". Support was highest at 37% within the 18- to 35-year-old age group.{{cite web|url=http://redcresearch.ie/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Paddy-Power-10th-Jan-Political-Poll-20132.pdf|title=Red C Opinion Poll, January 10th 2013|access-date=19 July 2017}} In 2018, The Thirty-sixth amendment of the constitution of Ireland, was voted for by 66.40% of the Irish population, receiving a majority in all constituency of the republic apart from Donegal{{Cite news |last=McCarthy |first=Justin |date=26 May 2018 |title=Landslide victory for Yes side in referendum |url=https://www.rte.ie/news/eighth-amendment/2018/0526/966152-eighth-amendment-referendum/ |access-date=12 March 2024 |work=RTÉ}}
• Great Britain: A January 2010 Angus Reid Public Opinion poll asked "Do you think abortion should be legal under any circumstances, legal only under certain circumstances, or illegal in all circumstances?" 36% responded that they believe abortion should be legal in all circumstances, 55% that it should be legal in certain circumstances, and 3% that it should be illegal in all circumstances."[http://www.visioncritical.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/2010.01.13_Abortion_BRI.pdf Half of Britons Say NHS Should Only Fund Abortions in Emergency Cases]." (January 13, 2010). Angus Reid Public Opinion. Retrieved January 16, 2010.
• Poland: An April 2019 Kantar poll in Poland found 58% of Poles supported women to have the right to abortion on-demand up to the 12th week of pregnancy, 35% opposed and 7% had no opinion.{{cite news|title =Sondaż: Rośnie poparcie dla aborcji na żądanie do 12. tygodnia ciąży|url =https://www.newsweek.pl/polska/spoleczenstwo/sondaz-rosnie-poparcie-dla-aborcji-na-zadanie-do-12-tygodnia-ciazy/bf2lwyy |date = 17 April 2019|website=Newsweek|archive-url=https://archive.today/20201028185205/https://www.newsweek.pl/polska/spoleczenstwo/sondaz-rosnie-poparcie-dla-aborcji-na-zadanie-do-12-tygodnia-ciazy/bf2lwyy|archive-date=2020-10-28}} A poll from 28 October 2020 found that 22% of Poles supported abortion-on demand, 62% only in certain cases and 11% thought it should be completely illegal.{{Cite web|title=Sondaż: orzeczenie Trybunału Konstytucyjnego w sprawie aborcji popiera 13 procent pytanych|url=https://tvn24.pl/polska/aborcja-sondaz-kantar-czy-aborcja-powinna-byc-w-polsce-legalna-4734145|access-date=2020-10-28|website=TVN24|date=28 October 2020 |language=pl}}
• The Netherlands: A September 2023 poll showed that 86% of the population above the age of 25 believed that woman should be able to choose to get an abortion. The poll also found that only 9% of people believed that abortion is murder, compared to the 13% of the people in a 2017 poll.{{cite web | url=https://rutgers.nl/nieuws/nederlanders-vinden-keuzevrijheid-voor-abortus-belangrijk/#:~:text=Een%20overgrote%20meerderheid%20van%20de,of%20ze%20een%20abortus%20wil | title=Nederlanders vinden keuzevrijheid voor abortus belangrijk | date=28 September 2023 }}

A May 2005 Euro RSCG/TNS Sofres poll examined attitudes toward abortion in 10 European countries, asking polltakers whether they agreed with the statement, "If a woman doesn't want children, she should be able to have an abortion".

{{cite web

|url = http://www.thebrusselsconnection.be/tbc/upload/attachments/European%20Values%20Overall%20EN.pdf

|title = European Values

|author = EURO RSCG

|author-link = Euro RSCG

|author2 = TNS Sofres.

|date = May 2005

|access-date = 2007-06-17

|url-status = dead

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070619211339/http://www.thebrusselsconnection.be/tbc/upload/attachments/European%20Values%20Overall%20EN.pdf

|archive-date = 2007-06-19

}}

([http://www.thebrusselsconnection.be/tbc/?page=detail&id=143&cat=49 associated article] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929194613/http://www.thebrusselsconnection.be/tbc/?page=detail&id=143&cat=49 |date=2007-09-29 }})

Results were as follows:

An April 2003 CDC/ORC Macro report examined sentiment on abortion among women aged 15 to 44 in six former-Comecon countries, asking, "Do you think that (in any situation) a woman always has (or should have) the right to decide about her (own) pregnancy, including whether to have an abortion?"

{{cite web

|url=https://www.dhsprogram.com/publications/publication-OD28-Other-Documents.cfm

|title=Reproductive, Maternal and Child Health in Eastern Europe and Eurasia: A Comparative Report

|author=Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

|author-link=Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

|author2=ORC Macro.

|page=89

|date=April 2003

|access-date=30 March 2019

}}

The results were:

Among those whose response was "no" above, it was then asked if abortion would be acceptable under selected circumstances. Positive responses to this subsequent question were:

• Canada: A December 2001 Gallup poll about abortion in Canada, asked, "Do you think abortions should be legal under any circumstances, legal only under certain circumstances or illegal in all circumstances and in what circumstances?" 32% responded that they believe abortion should be legal in all circumstances, 52% that it should be legal in certain circumstances, and 14% that it should be legal in no circumstances.
• Mexico: A November 2005 IMO poll about abortion in Mexico found that 73.4% think abortion should not be legalized while 11.2% think it should."{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20061219180739/http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/index.cfm/fuseaction/viewItem/itemID/10042 Mexicans Support Status Quo on Social Issues]}}." (December 1, 2005). Angus Reid Global Monitor. Retrieved January 10, 2006.
• Nicaragua: An August–September 2006 Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research poll on the legality of abortion to save a woman's life found that 20% of respondents felt strongly that it should be "legal", 49% felt somewhat that it should be "legal", 18% felt strongly that it should be "illegal", and 10% felt somewhat that it should be "illegal"."{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070128202619/http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/index.cfm/fuseaction/viewItem/itemID/13998 Nicaraguans Favour Abortion in Some Cases]}}." (December 4, 2006). Angus Reid Global Monitor. Retrieved January 10, 2006.
• Panama: A May 2005 Dichter & Neira/La Prensa poll found that 89.4% disagreed with abortion and 8.3% agreed."{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20080906095022/http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/index.cfm/fuseaction/viewItem/itemID/7331 Panamanians Reject Abortion, Same-Sex Marriage]}}." (May 23, 2005). Angus Reid Global Monitor. Retrieved January 10, 2006.
• Canada: A January 2010 Angus Reid Public Opinion poll found that 40% of Canadians think abortion should be permitted in all cases, while 31% support it with some restrictions; 41% say the health care system should pay for abortions only in emergency cases; 53% say under-aged girls should need parental consent for abortions."[http://www.visioncritical.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/2010.01.15_Abortion_CAN.pdf Many Canadians Would Like to See Restrictions on Abortion Procedures] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717221913/http://www.visioncritical.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/2010.01.15_Abortion_CAN.pdf |date=2011-07-17 }}." (January 15, 2010). Angus Reid Public Opinion. Retrieved January 16, 2010.
• United States: A 2022 study that reviewing existing literature and public opinion datasets found that 43.8% in the U.S. are consistently "pro-choice" whereas 14.8% are consistently "pro-life." Support for abortion has gradually increased over time in the U.S. since the Roe v. Wade ruling.{{Cite journal |last1=Osborne |first1=Danny |last2=Huang |first2=Yanshu |last3=Overall |first3=Nickola C. |last4=Sutton |first4=Robbie M. |last5=Petterson |first5=Aino |last6=Douglas |first6=Karen M. |last7=Davies |first7=Paul G. |last8=Sibley |first8=Chris G. |date=2022 |title=Abortion Attitudes: An Overview of Demographic and Ideological Differences |url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/pops.12803 |journal=Political Psychology |volume=43 |pages=29–76 |language=en |doi=10.1111/pops.12803 |s2cid=247365991 |issn=0162-895X|hdl=2292/59008 |hdl-access=free }}
• United States: A January 2010 Angus Reid Public Opinion poll found that 30% of Americans think abortion should be permitted only in cases of rape, incest, or to save the woman's life; 44% agree with banning abortion coverage through insurance companies subsidized by the government, while 42% disagree; 31% claim pregnant women don't have enough information about alternatives to abortion."[http://www.visioncritical.com/2010/01/americans-split-on-covering-abortion-in-insurance-plans-that-use-federal-subsidies/Americans Split on Covering Abortion in Insurance Plans that Use Federal Subsidies]{{Dead link|date=April 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}." (January 14, 2010). Angus Reid Public Opinion. Retrieved January 16, 2010.
• United States: A February 2007 CBS News poll about abortion in the U.S. asked, "What is your personal feeling about abortion?", and 30% said that it should be "permitted only in cases such as rape, incest or to save the woman's life", 31% said that abortion should be "permitted in all cases", 16% that it should be "permitted, but subject to greater restrictions than it is now", 12% said that it should "only be permitted to save the woman's life", and 5% said that it should "never" be permitted.[http://www.pollingreport.com/abortion.htm The Polling Report]. (2006). Retrieved January 11, 2006. The Gallup poll has obtained the following results:[http://www.pollingreport.com/abortion.htm The Polling Report]. (2008). Retrieved 2008-09-10.See Saad, "[http://www.gallup.com/poll/3016/Americans-Walk-Middle-Road-Abortion.aspx Americans Walk the Middle Road on Abortion]," The Gallup Poll Monthly (April 2000); [https://web.archive.org/web/20061012170440/http://www.frtl.org/abortion/gallup%20poll%20topics.htm Gallup Poll Topics] from Florida Right to Life. Retrieved 2007-01-12.

Image:USA Gallup abortion opinion poll stacked area.svg

class="wikitable"
style="background-color: #a0d0ff;" | |ROWSPAN="1" COLSPAN="2" ALIGN=”CENTER” |2003 Poll |ROWSPAN=”1” COLSPAN="2" ALIGN="CENTER" |2000 Poll |ROWSPAN=”1” COLSPAN="2" ALIGN="CENTER" |1996 Poll
	Legal	Illegal	Legal	Illegal | Legal	Illegal
First trimester	66%	29%	66%	31%	64%	30%
Second trimester	25%	68%	24%	69%	26%	65%
Third trimester	10%	84%	8%	86%	13%	82%

• Australia: Since at least the 1980s, public opinion polls have shown a majority of Australians support abortion rights,[http://www.emilyslist.org.au/news/editorial.asp?id=191 It's time to come clean on abortion debate] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091013102116/http://www.emilyslist.org.au/news/editorial.asp?id=191 |date=13 October 2009 }}, emilyslist.org.au. (1 February 2005). Retrieved 5 April 2009. and that support for abortion is increasing.{{cite journal |last1=Katherine |first1=Betts |date=2004 |title=Attitudes to Abortion in Australia: 1972 to 2003 |url=http://tapri.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/v12n4_3betts.pdf |journal=People and Place |volume=12 |issue=4}} In 2003, a poll by the Australian Survey of Social Attitudes found that 81% of Australians believe a woman should have the right to choose an abortion, and a 2007 poll by the same group found 4% of Australians are opposed to abortion in all circumstances.{{cite journal |last1=Katehrine |first1=Betts |date=2009 |title=Betts, Katharine. "Attitudes to abortion: Australia and Queensland in the twenty-first century. |url=http://tapri.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/v17n3_3betts.pdf |journal=People and Place |volume=17 |issue=3}}

• Argentina: A September 2011 survey conducted by the nonprofit organization Catholics for Choice found that 45% of Argentines are in favor of abortion for any reason in the first twelve weeks. This same poll conducted in September 2011 also suggests that most Argentines favor abortion being legal when a woman's health or life is at risk (81%), when the pregnancy is a result of rape (80%) or the fetus has severe abnormalities (68%).{{cite web |title=Views on Changing the Law on Abortion in Argentina |publisher=Belden Russonello Strategists LLC |date=October 2011 |url=http://www.catholicsforchoice.org/news/pr/2011/documents/ArgentinaSurveyEnglish3.pdf |access-date=2011-11-22 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120524022054/http://www.catholicsforchoice.org/news/pr/2011/documents/ArgentinaSurveyEnglish3.pdf |archive-date=2012-05-24 }}
• Brazil: In 2021, a survey conducted by PoderData, found that, 58% of Brazilians are against the legalization of abortion in Brazil, those who are favorable of legalization add up to 31%. Another 11% do not know or do not respond.{{cite web | access-date=2021-01-08 | url=https://www.poder360.com.br/poderdata/58-da-populacao-rejeita-liberacao-da-pratica-do-aborto-mostra-poderdata/ | title=58% da população rejeita liberação da prática do aborto, mostra PoderData - 08/01/2021 - Site - Poder360|website=www.poder360.com.br/| date=8 January 2021 }}
• Chile: A 2014 poll found that 70% of Chileans supported abortion if a mother's life is in danger, if a fetus is unviable or when a pregnancy is a result of rape.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jul/20/chiles-abortion-reform-ruling-coalition-split|title=Chile's abortion reform in trouble with ruling coalition split|agency=Reuters|date=20 July 2015|access-date=19 July 2017|newspaper=The Guardian}} According to a Pew Research Center poll in 2014, in Chile, public opinion is divided on the issue; 47% say that abortion should be legal in all or most cases, while 49% say it should be illegal in all or most circumstances.{{Cite web | url=http://www.pewforum.org/2014/11/13/chapter-5-social-attitudes/ |title = Social Attitudes on Moral Issues in Latin America|date = 13 November 2014}}
• Colombia: A September 2017 survey, conducted by the nonprofit Table for Life and Women's Health, found that 65% of Colombians believe that abortion should be legal for certain circumstances.{{cite web |title=El 65 % del país le dice sí al aborto legal |publisher=ElEspectador.com |date=28 September 2017 |url=https://www.elespectador.com/noticias/salud/el-65-del-pais-le-dice-si-al-aborto-legal-articulo-715353|access-date=2017-09-28}} (in Spanish)
• Uruguay: A May 2007 Factum/El Espectador survey asked Uruguayans about a law under debate in their country's Senate, which would legalize abortion within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, finding that 61% support the law, 27% oppose the law, and 12% are unsure about it."[http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/index.cfm/fuseaction/viewItem/itemID/15939 Uruguayans Support Legalizing Abortion]{{Dead link|date=April 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}. (June 1, 2007). Angus Reid Global Monitor. Retrieved June 20, 2007.

Overall, religion is a clear determinant of certain group's opinion on abortion. While different religions elicit different levels of support for abortion, there are clear correlations between one's faith, and support/opposition for abortion policy. Thus, within the societal umbrella of abortion opinion, each religion provides a specific contribution to the society's overall position.

An October 2006 Pew Research Center survey of moral opinion among Christians in 10 countries asked "... [Do] you think abortion can always be justified, sometimes be justified, or never be justified?"The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life. (October 5, 2006). [http://pewforum.org/surveys/pentecostal/ Spirit and Power: A 10-Country Survey of Pentecostals]. Retrieved February 13, 2007. {{unreliable source?|date=November 2011}} {{verify source|date=November 2011}} {{Dubious|Pew Poll: Relevance?|date=November 2011}}

The poll also asked respondents whether they agreed with the statement, "The government should not interfere with a woman's ability to have an abortion".

According to a 2014 poll by the Pew Research Center surveying 264 people, 82% of American Buddhists supported abortion in all or most cases, while 17% opposed legal abortion in all or most cases.{{Cite web |last= |first= |last2= |last3= |first3= |title=Religious Landscape Study |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/religious-landscape-study/ |access-date=2024-04-13 |website=Pew Research Center's Religion & Public Life Project |language=en-US}}

According to Hindu bioethics, abortion is only permitted when the mother's life is in danger. Many hindus believe in anti-abortion teaching, emphasizing Ahimsa and its intrinsic reverence for life. According to a 2020 poll, 53% of Hindus say that abortion is either “somewhat unacceptable” or “completely unacceptable.”{{Cite web |last=Center |first=Pew Research |date=2022-03-02 |title=2. Son preference and abortion |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2022/03/02/son-preference-and-abortion/ |access-date=2024-02-28 |website=Pew Research Center's Religion & Public Life Project |language=en-US}}

According to a 2014 poll by The Pew Research Center surveying 237 people, 55% of American Muslims supported legal abortion in all or most cases, while 37% are opposed to legal abortion in all or most cases.{{cite web | url=https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/religious-landscape-study/religious-tradition/muslim/views-about-abortion/ | title=Religious Landscape Study }}

According to a 2014 poll by The Pew Research Center surveying 1,098 people, 87% of American atheists supported abortion's legality in all or most cases, and 11% opposed abortion's legality in all or most cases.{{cite web | url=https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/religious-landscape-study/religious-family/atheist/views-about-abortion/ | title=Religious Landscape Study }}

At the societal level, especially in lesser developed countries, it seems to be a challenge to determine what is the exact numerical stance of obstetricians's on abortion. But, a recent survey with a small sample of OBGYN trainees from 47 countries and spanning 4 continents, yielded some more results about the attitude of OBGYNs toward abortion. 77.5% percent of the OBGYNs in the study supported the legalization of abortion in their country. Another 13.9% support the legalization with restrictions, with only 5.9% saying no and 2.7% answering "not sure."{{Cite journal |last1=Elif |first1=Topcu |last2=Ramirez |first2=Atziri |last3=Akaninyene |first3=Ubom |date=September 11, 2023 |title=A global study on the abortion views and knowledge of trainee obstetrician-gynecologists |journal=International Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics |volume=163 |issue=2 |pages=453–460|doi=10.1002/ijgo.15119 |doi-access=free |pmid=37694673 }}

Some countries such as the United States have provided some idea of the level of support among physicians. A survey in the United States of more than 10,000 physicians (not only obstetricians) came to the result that 34% of physicians would perform an abortion in certain situations, even if it were against their own beliefs. Approximately 54% would not, and for the remaining 12%, it would depend on circumstances.[http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/731485_7 Doctors Struggle With Tougher-Than-Ever Dilemmas: Other Ethical Issues] Author: Leslie Kane. 11/11/2010

Additionally, one survey collected specific, more recent data on OBGYNs in the United States and their overall feelings about certain abortion policies, as well as the exact percentage of OBGYNs that are willing/able to perform abortions. For example, a recent study conducted after the Dobbs' decision found that "Nearly one in five (18%) office-based OBGYNs nationally say that they are providing abortion services", the same study also found that "Eight in ten OBGYNs approve of a recent policy change from the FDA that allows certified pharmacies to dispense medication abortion pills."{{Cite web |last=Frederiksen |first=Brittni |date=June 21, 2023 |title=A National Survey of OBGYNs' Experiences After Dobbs |url=https://www.kff.org/womens-health-policy/report/a-national-survey-of-obgyns-experiences-after-dobbs/ |access-date=December 6, 2023 |website=KFF.org}} This data, along with other material from this same article, seemed to suggest that the rate at which OBGYN's broadly support some form of abortion at a societal level conflicts with certain legal barriers preventing them from providing this service.

• Abortion debate
• Abortion law

• {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20100117124947/http://www.angus-reid.com/issue/C5/ Angus Reid Global Monitor - Global Polls on Abortion]}}
• [http://www.pollingreport.com/abortion.htm Polling Report: Abortion and birth control]

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Societal Attitudes Towards Abortion}}

Category:Abortion debate

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