In 2023, state health officials in Arkansas and South Dakota reported zero abortions, a significant decrease from previous years. Arkansas, with a population of approximately 1.5 million women, recorded zero abortions, down from 1,621 in 2022. South Dakota also reported zero abortions, a decrease from 192 in 2021.
These statistics reflect the impact of stringent abortion bans enacted following the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. Pro-life advocates view the decline as a positive development, suggesting that many women were spared from the potential physical and emotional consequences of abortion. Rose Mimms, executive director of Arkansas Right to Life, stated, “Undoubtedly, many Arkansas pregnant mothers were spared from the lifelong regrets and physical complications abortion can cause, and babies are alive today in Arkansas.”
However, some healthcare professionals question the accuracy of these reports. Dr. Amy Kelley, an OB-GYN in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, noted that patients have sought medical attention after taking abortion pills or to address complications from nonviable pregnancies. She remarked, “To say there are no abortions going on in South Dakota is ludicrous.”
Public health scientist Ushma Upadhyay from the University of California-San Francisco expressed skepticism about the reported numbers, describing them as “so clinically dishonest.”
Upadhyay is the co-chair of ‘WeCount,’ a research initiative seeking to keep track of all abortions nationwide. In a statement to NPR, she stated, “We know [abortions] are sometimes necessary to save the pregnant person’s life, so I do hope there are abortions occurring in South Dakota.”
State officials acknowledge limitations in their data collection, noting that they cannot track abortions performed out of state or outside of healthcare facilities. Ashley Whitlow, spokesperson for the Arkansas Department of Health, explained that the department collects data from in-state providers and facilities as required by law.
Mimms shared with KFF Health News: “Women are still seeking out abortions in Arkansas, whether it’s illegally or going out of state for illegal abortion…We’re not naive.”
Regardless of whether the exact number of abortions is zero, the dramatic decline in reported procedures marks a significant victory for the pro-life movement. The decrease reflects a growing culture of life in Arkansas and South Dakota, where laws now protect unborn children and offer expectant mothers alternatives to abortion.
