The number of abortions performed in Minnesota dropped 8% last year compared to 2019, to the lowest level since 1974, the Minnesota Department of Health reported July 1.

Scott Fischbach, executive director of Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life, credited the decrease to pregnant women meeting challenges without turning to abortion, the work of pregnancy care centers and state pro-life laws such as the 2003 informed consent statute, “Woman’s Right to Know.”

“Many pregnant women have faced difficult situations, especially during the last year. Yet more and more have met those challenges without the tragedy of abortion,” Fischbach said.

“The work of pregnancy care centers, which compassionately offer alternatives to abortion, has been instrumental,” Fischbach said. “And pro-life laws in Minnesota, such as ‘Woman’s Right to Know’ and ‘Positive Alternatives,’ continue to empower women and save lives.

“Today’s report is very positive news for mothers and children,” he said.

In its report to the state Legislature, the health department said 9,108 abortions were performed in Minnesota in 2020, compared with 9,922 the year before.

That compares with 8,732 abortions in the state in 1974, the year after the U.S. Supreme Court decision Roe v. Wade legalized abortion across the country and the first year that reporting was required in Minnesota. The number of abortions in the state peaked in 1980, at 19,028, the health department reported.

While the number of abortions declined in 2020, those performed by Planned Parenthood increased by 16%, to 7,491, a record high 82% of total abortions performed, up from 65% in 2019.

Chemical abortions in the state increased in 2020 by 34% to 4,964, which, for the first time, surpassed half the abortions performed. According to MCCL, the increase follows a new Minnesota organization sending chemical abortion drugs to women through the mail, and Planned Parenthood starting to provide chemical abortions at an additional location.

Planned Parenthood provides surgical abortions at its St. Paul clinic, and chemical abortions at that clinic as well as its clinics in Brooklyn Park, Rochester and, most recently, Minneapolis.

“Especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, abortion supporters have sought to make chemical abortions more widespread, even at the expense of women’s safety,” Fischbach said. “Both women and unborn children deserve better.”

Facts in the MDH report for 2020 include:

  • 251 abortions occurred at 20 weeks gestation or later (253 in 2019), including one at 35 weeks.
  • Rape or incest was given as a reason for less than 1% of abortions; 57% indicated “does not want children at this time” and about 18% indicated economic reasons.
  • 109 complications were reported as occurring at the time of procedure, including cervical laceration, hemorrhage and uterine perforation.

For more details, view the MDH’s 74-page report.