FACT SHEET

Unintended in the United States

On average, U.S. women want to have then or sooner. It is important to note women of color. Rates tend to be low- two children. To accomplish that goal, a that women defined as having an est among higher-income women (at or woman will spend close to three years “intended” pregnancy have not neces- above 200% of poverty), white women, pregnant, postpartum or attempting sarily expressed an intention or plan to college graduates and married women. to become pregnant, and about three become pregnant. decades—more than three-quarters of ■■ The rate of unintended pregnancy her reproductive life—trying to avoid Pregnancy incidence among women with incomes less than pregnancy. ■■ In 2011, there were 98 for 100% of the poverty was 112 per 1,000 every 1,000 women aged 15–44 in the in 2011, more than five times the rate Defining pregnancy desires United States. among women with incomes of at least Although researchers have been 200% of poverty (20 per 1,000 women). measuring unintended pregnancy for ■■ In 2011, there were 45 unintended preg- decades, the conventional approach to nancies for every 1,000 women aged ■■ The proportion of pregnancies that are categorizing recalled pregnancy desires 15–44 in the United States. In other unintended generally decreases with does not capture the complexities of words, nearly 5% of reproductive-age age. The highest unintended preg- women’s and couples’ desires, their women have an unintended pregnancy nancy rate in 2011 was among women experiences prior to pregnancy or the each year. aged 20–24 (81 per 1,000 women). context in which a pregnancy occurs. However, traditional estimates under- As a result, sources of data available ■■ The unintended pregnancy rate is state the risk of unintended pregnancy to characterize pregnancy desires and significantly higher in the United among adolescents because these experiences are limited. The Guttmacher States than in many other developed estimates typically include all women, Institute is aware of these limitations, countries. whether or not they are sexually and our experts are working to address active. When rates are recalculated them in our work. The findings included ■■ In 2011, nearly half (45%, or 2.8 mil- including only those sexually active, in this fact sheet are the most current lion) of the 6.1 million pregnancies in women aged 15–19 have the high- available. the United States were unintended. est unintended pregnancy rate of any Specifically, 27% of all pregnancies age-group. An unintended pregnancy is one that were “wanted later” and 18% of preg- occurred when a woman wanted to nancies were “unwanted.” ■■ Cohabiting women had a higher rate of become pregnant in the future but unintended pregnancy compared with not at the time she became pregnant Demographic differences both unmarried noncohabiting women (“wanted later”) or one that occurred Understanding demographic differ- (141 vs. 36–54 per 1,000) and married when she did not want to become preg- ences in unintended pregnancy helps to women (29 per 1,000). nant then or at any time in the future identify where to focus policy and pro- (“unwanted”). In this fact sheet, births grammatic interventions, and highlights ■■ At 79 per 1,000, the unintended resulting from unintended pregnancies areas of inequality. These differences pregnancy rate for non-Hispanic black are referred to as “unplanned.” do not occur in a vacuum; they reflect women in 2011 was more than double differences in social, cultural, structural, that of non-Hispanic white women All other pregnancies are often termed economic and political contexts, which (33 per 1,000). “intended,” including those that were influence health behaviors, access to desired at the time they occurred or services and outcomes. ■■ Women without a high school degree were wanted sooner than they occurred had the highest unintended pregnancy (“then or sooner”). At the national ■■ Unintended pregnancy rates are high- rate among those of any educational level, pregnancies to women who were est among low-income women (i.e., level in 2011 (73 per 1,000), and rates indifferent or unsure about becom- women with incomes less than 200% were lower with each level of educa- ing pregnant are typically combined of the federal poverty level), women tional attainment. with pregnancies that were wanted aged 18–24, cohabiting women and

JANUARY 2019 UNINTENDED PREGNANCY RATES Outcomes of Preventing unintended unintended pregnancy pregnancy Unintended pregnancy is increasingly ■■ In 2011, 42% of unintended ■■ Publicly funded family concentrated among low-income women. pregnancies (excluding mis- planning services help carriages) ended in , women avoid pregnancies Rate (no. per 1,000 women aged 15–44) and 58% ended in birth. This they do not want and plan 140 was a small shift from 2008, pregnancies they do want. when 40% ended in abortion In 2014, these services 120 and 60% ended in birth. helped women avoid two million unintended pregnan- <100% of poverty 100 ■■ The unplanned birth rate cies, which would likely in 2011 was 22 per 1,000 have resulted in 900,000 80 100–199% of poverty women aged 15–44. In that births and nearly 700,000 same year, the abortion rate . 60 All women was 17 per 1,000 women. 40 ■■ Without publicly funded ≥200% of poverty ■■ The proportion of unintended services, 20 pregnancies ending in birth U.S. rates of unintended decreased across all racial pregnancy, and resulting 0 and ethnic groups between births and abortions for Lorem ipsum 1981 1987 2001 2008 2011 2008 and 2011. The propor- 2014 would have been 68% tion of women experiencing higher. an unintended pregnancy ■■ There are also differences ■■ Between 1981 and 2008, and choosing to end it in ■■ In 2010, the nationwide in rates of outcomes of the unintended pregnancy abortion was higher among public investment in family unintended pregnancies rate among low-income black women (50%) than planning services resulted Raacrosste (per population 1,000 women groups. aged 15–44)In women rose, while the among women in other racial in $13.6 billion in net sav- 1402011, women with incomes rate among higher-income and ethnic groups (36–40%). ings from helping women below 100% of poverty women declined steadily. avoid unintended pregnan- 120had an unplanned birth rate Between 2008 and 2011, ■■ In 2011, a lower proportion cies and a range of other nearly seven times that of <100%however, of p theovert ratey among of women below poverty negative 100 women at or above 200% women with incomes below (38%) than of women outcomes, such as HIV and of80 poverty. poverty dropped from 137 at 100–199% of poverty other STIs, cervical cancer 100-per199% 1,000 of pwomenoverty aged (44%) or of higher-income and . Trends60 15–44 to 112 per 1,000— women (48%) chose to end ■■ In the United States, the pro- an All18% wo declinemen in just three an unintended pregnancy SOURCES portion40 of pregnancies that years. The rate among by abortion. Consequently, These data are the most recent were unintended increased ≥women200% of at p oveor aboverty 200% women below poverty had available. An annotated version slightly20 between 2001 and of poverty decreased 20% a relatively high unplanned of this fact sheet is available 2008 (from 48% to 51%), between 2008 and 2011. birth rate compared with at https://www.guttmacher. 0 org/fact-sheet/unintended- but, by 2011, the proportion women above poverty (60 pregnancy-united-states. decreased1981 to 45%. 1987 ■■ The unintended pregnancy2001 vs. 9–28 per2008 1,000 women2011 rate among adolescents has aged 15–44). ■■ Following a long period of been declining since the late minimal change, the over- 1980s. Between 2008 and ■■ The proportion of births all unintended pregnancy 2011, the unintended preg- that fathers report as rate (the number of unin- nancy rate among women unplanned—about four in 10 tended pregnancies per aged 18–19 declined 20%, in a 2006–2010 study—is 1,000 women aged 15–44) and the unplanned birth similar to that reported by decreased substantially rate declined 21%. Among mothers. The proportion var- from 54 in 2008 to 45 in women aged 15–17, the ied significantly according to 2011, a decline of 18%. unintended pregnancy fathers’ union status, age, This is the lowest rate since rate declined 44% dur- education level, and race at least 1981 and is likely ing the same period, and and ethnicity. Good reproductive due to an overall increase in the unplanned birth rate health policy starts with contraceptive use and the declined 47%. credible research use of highly effective con- 125 Maiden Lane traceptive methods. New York, NY 10038 212.248.1111 [email protected] www.guttmacher.org

JANUARY 2019