The Truth About Planned Parenthood
Planned Parenthood by the numbers. An examination of Planned Parenthood's own reporting shows a striking long-term trend: abortion and government funding have risen while several other health services have declined.
This resource summarizes publicly reported data and third-party analysis. Figures should be read with the reporting definitions used in each annual report.
What role does abortion now play?
Planned Parenthood provides a range of medical services. But the scale and trajectory of its abortion activity deserves careful public scrutiny.
The organization's latest report records more than 434,000 abortions in a single reporting year. Live Action's historical analysis of Planned Parenthood annual reports estimates that the annual abortion total has more than doubled since approximately 2000.
More than 434,000 abortions in one reporting year is not a marginal activity.
Abortion compared with alternatives.
Two ratios help show the relative scale of abortion, prenatal care, and adoption referrals in Planned Parenthood's reported services.
Abortion vs. prenatal care
approximately 57 abortions for every prenatal-care service
Ratio based on the service figures analyzed by Live Action from Planned Parenthood reporting.
Abortion vs. adoption referrals
approximately 143 abortions for every adoption referral
Planned Parenthood reported roughly 434,450 abortions and 3,038 adoption referrals.
More abortions. Fewer other services.
Live Action's review of historical Planned Parenthood reports finds substantial declines in several services traditionally associated with women's preventive health care.
Historical comparisons depend on categories and definitions used in each reporting year. These percentages reflect Live Action's analysis of Planned Parenthood annual reports.
Why the old "3%" statistic can mislead.
The frequently repeated claim that abortion represented only about 3% of Planned Parenthood's services depended on counting every individual service separately.
A single visit might generate several counted services—such as testing, counseling, and contraception—while an abortion counts as one service. Dividing abortions by the total number of individually counted services can therefore make abortion appear proportionally smaller than other ways of measuring its role.
A fuller assessment can consider the number of abortions, the number of abortion patients, abortion's share of pregnancy-related services, revenue, and Planned Parenthood's national share of abortions.
Four findings worth understanding.
Abortions have risen substantially.
Annual abortions have more than doubled compared with approximately 2000, according to Live Action's historical analysis.
Government funding has grown dramatically.
The latest report lists approximately $832 million in government health-services reimbursements and grants.
Several other health services have declined.
Historical reporting shows major decreases in multiple screening, breast-care, Pap-test, and contraceptive categories.
Prenatal care and adoption referrals remain comparatively rare.
The reported ratios show abortion occurring far more frequently than either service.
Public policy should follow the facts.
- Why have abortions risen while numerous other services have declined?
- What should taxpayers understand about public funding of an organization performing more than 434,000 abortions annually?
- How can Colorado expand excellent care that supports women while protecting unborn children?
Build a culture where every woman is supported and every life is valued.
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Read the underlying data.
This page summarizes Planned Parenthood's published reporting alongside historical analysis by Live Action. Public reporting categories can change over time, so historical comparisons should be read in context.
Educational resource prepared by Pro-Life Colorado. Last reviewed September 2026.