Societal attitudes towards abortion have varied throughout different historical periods and cultures. One manner of assessing such attitudes in the modern era has been to conduct opinion polls to measure levels of public opinion on abortion.
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".[12] Results were as follows:
Country | "Very much" | "A little" | "Not really" | "Not at all" |
---|---|---|---|---|
Czech Republic | 66% | 15% | 8% | 10% |
Finland | 54% | 20% | 9% | 13% |
France | 55% | 23% | 8% | 13% |
Germany | 40% | 24% | 10% | 24% |
Italy | 29% | 24% | 16% | 25% |
Netherlands | 37% | 22% | 11% | 26% |
Poland | 23% | 24% | 19% | 29% |
Portugal | 32% | 20% | 12% | 30% |
Spain | 41% | 18% | 8% | 27% |
United Kingdom | 43% | 23% | 10% | 19% |
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?"[13] The results were:
Country | Azerbaijan (2001) |
Czech Republic (1993) |
Georgia (1999) |
Moldova (1997) |
Romania (1999) |
Russia (1996) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Yes | 80% | 85% | 79% | 81% | 78% | 72% |
No | 20% | 15% | 21% | 19% | 22% | 28% |
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:
Country | Azerbaijan (2001) |
Czech Republic (1993) |
Georgia (1999) |
Moldova (1997) |
Romania (1999) |
Russia (1996) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
If the pregnancy endangers woman's life | 83% | 91% | 80% | 71% | 69% | N/A |
If the child might be born deformed | 80% | 74% | 80% | 88% | 70% | N/A |
If pregnancy endangers woman's health | 70% | 72% | 70% | 38% | 52% | N/A |
If pregnancy resulted from rape | 67% | 71% | 40% | 43% | 42% | N/A |
If family cannot afford to support the child | 65% | 16% | 23% | 32% | 29% | N/A |
If the woman is not married | 66% | 8% | 22% | 16% | 23% | N/A |
2003 Poll 2000 Poll 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%
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.
Religious Tradition | Legal in All/Most Cases | Illegal in All/Most Cases |
---|---|---|
Jehovah's Witness | 18% | 75% |
Mormon | 27% | 70% |
Evangelical Protestant | 33% | 63% |
Catholic | 48% | 47% |
Orthodox Christian | 53% | 45% |
Historically Black Protestant | 52% | 42% |
Muslim | 55% | 37% |
Mainline Protestant | 60% | 35% |
Hindu | 68% | 29% |
Unaffiliated | 73% | 23% |
Buddhist | 82% | 17% |
Jewish | 83% | 15% |
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?"[33] [unreliable source?] [verification needed] [dubious – discuss]
Country | "Always justified" | "Sometimes justified" | "Never justified" |
---|---|---|---|
Brazil | 4% | 16% | 79% |
Chile | 4% | 23% | 71% |
Guatemala | 3% | 10% | 85% |
India (localities) | 9% | 19% | 68% |
Kenya | n/a | 11% | 88% |
Nigeria | 1% | 4% | 94% |
Philippines | 0% | 3% | 97% |
South Africa | 8% | 16% | 73% |
South Korea | 0% | 45% | 54% |
United States | 5% | 46% | 45% |
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".
Country | "Completely agree" | "Mostly agree" | "Mostly disagree" | "Completely disagree" |
---|---|---|---|---|
Brazil | 35% | 13% | 15% | 34% |
Chile | 22% | 24% | 23% | 25% |
Guatemala | 31% | 27% | 11% | 28% |
India (localities) | 24% | 22% | 18% | 33% |
Kenya | 14% | 4% | 12% | 69% |
Nigeria | 20% | 10% | 18% | 46% |
Philippines | 12% | 13% | 18% | 56% |
South Africa | 21% | 25% | 19% | 28% |
South Korea | 6% | 56% | 31% | 3% |
United States | 40% | 24% | 12% | 20% |
Accoridng 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.[34]
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.”[35]
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 must cases.[36]
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.[37]
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."[38]
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.[39]
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."[40] 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.