Democrats and Republicans hold dramatically different views on abortion which increase over time

Americans continue to deeply disagree on abortion. Fifty-seven percent of Americans believe that abortion should be legal in all or most cases while 40 percent believe it should be illegal in all or most cases. Unsurprisingly, that number changes dramatically when looking at how people identify politically. Republicans overwhelmingly believe that abortion should be illegal and that number has grown over time, while Democrats have shown an increase in believing that abortion should be legal. 

By a wide margin (65% to 34%), Republicans say abortion should be illegal in all or most cases. In 1995, Republicans were evenly divided (49% legal vs. 48% illegal).

Views among Democrats have shown less change over the past two decades. Today, 75% of Democrats say abortion should be legal in at least most cases; in 1995, 64% favored legal abortion in all or most cases.

It’s truly curious how Republicans have become even more conservative over time and it looks like religion plays a huge role. Sadly, gains in technology, education and science don’t seem to convince them that women should have autonomy over their own bodies. This wouldn’t be problematic if they weren’t so obsessed with trying to turn their beliefs into laws that not only prevent women from access to abortions but that drive maternal mortality rates up. In Texas, for example where they have slashed funding for women’s health programs, the maternal mortality rate is the worst in the developed world. Their war on abortion is literally killing women. 

Among white evangelical Protestants, there continues to be staunch opposition to abortion in all or most cases. Seven-in-ten (70%) say abortion should be illegal in all or most cases, while just 29% say it should be legal.

By contrast, the religious “nones” – those who are religiously unaffiliated – show broad support for legal abortion in all or most cases. Eight-in-ten are in favor, while just 17% are opposed.