Americans report a wide variance in how much thought they have given to the issue of abortion personally.
Overall, 36% of adults say that prior to taking the survey, they had given “a lot” of thought to issues around abortion. An identical share say they had given “some” thought to the issue, while roughly three-in-ten say they had thought about abortion “not too much” (21%) or “not at all” (8%). Note: The survey was conducted prior to the leak of the Supreme Court’s draft opinion on May 2.
Women are more likely than men to say they have given “a lot” of thought to abortion (40% vs. 30%). This gender gap is consistent across age groups and political parties.
Religiously unaffiliated adults are just as likely as those who do identify with a religion to say they have given a lot of thought to issues surrounding abortion (35% and 36%, respectively). Among Christian subgroups, White evangelical Protestants are far more likely than others to say they have thought a lot about abortion (49%). Self-described atheists, however, also stand out: 50% say that prior to taking the survey, they had given a lot of thought to the issue.
Americans who say abortion should be legal or illegal with no exceptions are more likely than those with less absolutist views to say they have thought a lot about the issue. This is especially the case for Americans who say abortion should be illegal in all cases without exception – a clear majority of whom report having given abortion a lot of thought (59%).
Women who say they personally know someone who has had an abortion (or have had one themselves) are particularly likely to say they have given “a lot” of thought to abortion issues (47%). Women who do not know someone who has had an abortion are far less likely to say they have given a lot of thought to the issue (28%). There is a similar gap among men: 38% of men who know someone who has had an abortion say they have thought “a lot” about the issue; this compares with 23% of men who do not know someone who has had an abortion.
Personal connections to abortion
Overall, most Americans (59%) say they personally know someone who has had an abortion, such as a close friend or family member, or themselves. People in this category are more likely than others to say abortion should be legal in all or most cases.
Women (66%) are considerably more likely than men (51%) to say they personally know someone who has had an abortion – a gap that is evident across age groups, political parties and most religious groups. Among adults under 30, for example, 56% of women say they personally know someone who has had an abortion, compared with 35% of men under 30.
Overall, Americans ages 30 and older are more likely than adults under 30 to say they personally know someone who has had an abortion. Black Americans (67%) are somewhat more likely than White (61%) and Hispanic adults (50%) to report knowing someone who has had an abortion, and Democrats also are slightly more likely than Republicans to say this (62% vs. 57%).
Identical shares of Protestants and religiously unaffiliated Americans (61%) say they know someone who has had an abortion. Even among White evangelical Protestants, who voice much greater opposition to abortion legally and morally, a majority (58%) say this is the case.
Religion’s impact on views about abortion
While there are many factors that could shape people’s views on abortion, including personal experiences and politics, religious teachings are a major consideration for many Americans. Overall, 36% of adults say that religion is either “extremely” or “very” important in shaping their views about abortion, with members of certain Christian groups especially likely to say this is the case.
White evangelical Protestants stand out: 73% say religion is at least “very” important in shaping their views on abortion, including about half (52%) who say it is extremely important.
Catholics are significantly less likely to say religion is important in shaping their views: 41% say it is important, including 21% who say it is extremely important. And White non-evangelical Protestants are even less inclined to link religion with their opinions on abortion.
Older adults and Republicans are more likely than younger adults and Democrats to say religion is important in shaping their personal views on abortion.
Americans who say that religion has a major impact on their views of abortion are more likely than others to support legal restrictions on abortion.
Among those who say religion is extremely important to their views, 81% say abortion should generally be illegal – including 31% who say abortion should be illegal in all cases without exception.
In contrast, among adults who say religion is not at all important to shaping their views on religion, 87% say abortion should be legal in most situations – including 34% who say abortion should be legal in all cases with no exceptions.
