U.S. adults are evenly divided on the morality of abortion, according to a Gallup report published June 9.
Roughly half (46%) of respondents say abortion is morally wrong while 47% say it is morally acceptable.
This is a three-point increase from 2020 in those saying it is morally acceptable and is the highest percentage in Gallup’s polling. The all-time low for those saying it is morally wrong was 44% in 2006.
In 2009, there was a 20-point spread between morally wrong (56%) and morally acceptable (36%) responses, while there was no difference in 2015 when 45% held both positions.
When asked to say if they are “pro-choice” or “pro-life,” respondents were again evenly split, with 49% “pro-choice” and 47% “pro-life.”
Respondents who identify as Democrat were most likely to say abortion is morally acceptable (64%) and to identify as “pro-choice” (70%), followed by independents (51% and 53%, respectively) and Republicans (26% and 22%, respectively).
“Pro-choice” identification decreased with age: 18 to 34 years old (55%), 35 to 54 years old (49%) and 55 years old and older (43%).
When asked to note in what circumstances they feel abortion should be legal, 32% of respondents said “under any circumstances,” 13% “in most circumstances” and 33% “in only a few circumstances” while 19% said it should be “illegal under all circumstances.”
For Democrats, the specific position breakdown is as follows: any (50%), most (19%), only a few (22%) and illegal in all (8%).
For independents: any (32%), most (14%), only a few (33%) and illegal in all (17%).
For Republicans: any (15%), most (8%), only a few (46%) and illegal in all (31%).
“Abortion remains a divisive issue in the U.S., with roughly equal percentages coming down on either side of the morality of abortion, which is a recent development, and a more enduring close division on self-identification as pro-choice or pro-life,” the report said. “The partisan gap in abortion attitudes continues to be large. Americans’ views on the legality of abortion remain likewise divided and similar to what they have been since the 1970s.”
The margin of error is plus-or-minus 4%.
The full report is available here. The topline results are available here.
Managing editor for news and opinion at Good Faith Media.
