Florida’s Abortion Ban: What the Latest Data Shows
GAINESVILLE — Florida’s ban on abortion beyond six weeks of pregnancy has led to a decline in abortions, a result supporters of the ban had hoped for.
The state’s total of 60,755 abortions in 2024 was down 28% from 84,052 in 2023, according to reports to the Florida Agency for Healthcare Administration.
Decline in Abortions Across the State
Florida’s three largest counties by population, Miami-Dade, Broward, and Hillsborough, each reported declines of more than 20%. The steepest decline was 54% in Dixie County in north-central Florida.
Only two counties, Calhoun in the Panhandle and Glades west of Lake Okeechobee, reported more abortions in 2024 than in 2023. The numbers are reported to the state by healthcare providers and reflect where patients lived at the time of the abortion.
Non-Florida Residents and Abortion
The number of non-Florida residents who got abortions in Florida last year fell 51% to 3,754, the data show. This marks the first decline in five years. Abortion totals since the end of 2024 are not publicly available.
The Six-Week Ban
The six-week ban was passed by Florida’s Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis in 2023, but legal challenges held up its implementation until last May. Florida previously outlawed abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy. The 15-week ban began in 2022 after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, giving states the power to control abortion access.
The current six-week ban includes some exceptions. An abortion may occur past six weeks if the life of the mother is at risk, if there are fatal fetal abnormalities before the third trimester or if the pregnancy is the result of rape, incest, or human trafficking if the mother provides documentation and the pregnancy is at 15 weeks or less.
Comparison to Other States
Florida’s current six-week ban is similar to those in Georgia and South Carolina. Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee have enacted total abortion bans with limited exceptions. North Carolina has a 12-week ban since 2023. Virginia still allows abortion up to viability, with some exceptions past 26 weeks.
Changes in Abortion Patterns
The number of Florida residents who had abortions and live in counties that border Alabama fell 44% in 2024. The number of residents who had abortions and live in counties next to Georgia declined 19%.
Cases like Trenece Robertson’s
Trenece Robertson was able to get an abortion in 2019 when her pregnancy was dated at six weeks and five days. She lived in Louisiana at the time and was visiting Tallahassee. “I don’t think most people’s stories are like that anymore,” she said. Robertson, 25, now works as a reproductive-rights organizer in Tallahassee. She saw the boost in out-of-state abortion patients when Florida had a 15-week ban, followed by a sharp drop since the six-week ban took effect. Florida women often are trying to get abortions right before the legal deadline, she said.
Conclusion
Florida’s six-week ban has led to a decline in abortions, a result supporters of the ban had hoped for. The ban includes some exceptions, such as when the life of the mother is at risk, and has led to a shift in how women approach their reproductive healthcare. Women are now seeking earlier prenatal care and are paying more attention to their menstrual cycles and fertility. The ban has also led to an increase in adoption and family-planning aid.
FAQs
Q: What is the difference between the 15-week ban and the six-week ban?
A: The 15-week ban was the least restrictive of any state in the Southeast, while the six-week ban is more restrictive and includes some exceptions.
Q: How does the six-week ban affect women’s behavior toward seeking an abortion?
A: Women are now seeking earlier prenatal care and are paying more attention to their menstrual cycles and fertility. They are also trying to get abortions right before the legal deadline.
Q: What is the impact of the six-week ban on abortion rates?
A: The ban has led to a decline in abortions, with a 28% decrease in 2024 compared to 2023.
Q: What are the exceptions to the six-week ban?
A: The exceptions include situations where the life of the mother is at risk, fatal fetal abnormalities before the third trimester, or if the pregnancy is the result of rape, incest, or human trafficking and the mother provides documentation and the pregnancy is at 15 weeks or less.
