The Changing Face of Abortion: Pro-Choice Support Down from 65% to 52%

Thirty-three years after Roe v Wade, support for abortion has dwindled to just 52% of Americans, down from 65% just a decade ago, suggest data from a new nationwide survey of 5640 Americans, conducted from January 20 to January 23, 2006. This includes 10% who say it should be available, but the government should not pay for it.

A total of 43% of those surveyed oppose abortion, although most believe there should be exceptions in cases of rape, incest, or when pregnancy poses a grave threat to the mother; only 9% oppose abortion in every circumstance.

Among women, 50% favor abortion with no restrictions, while another 8% who favor it do not want the government to pay for it. And 38% of female respondents oppose abortion outright, or with certain exceptions. Among men, 59% oppose abortion completely or with certain exceptions, 35% favor it always, and 12% support it but without financial support from government.

"What's striking to me is that the numbers were radically different 10 years ago," said John Zogby, president and CEO of Zogby International, which conducted the survey. About 7 to 10 years ago, "pro-choice forces were in the ascendancy...65% to 68%."