New Gallup Poll Shows Americans More Pro-Life Than Pro-Abortion

A new Gallup poll finds Americans slightly more inclined to favor restrictions on abortion than broad legality, marking a pro-life tilt in public sentiment four years after the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision returned the issue to the states.

According to Gallup’s May 1-17 Values and Beliefs poll, 49% of Americans say they prefer abortion to be illegal in all circumstances or legal in only a few such as rape incest or saving the life of the mother. That’s compared with 48% who want it legal in all or most cases.
The 1-percentage-point edge for protecting babies from abortions underscores growing recognition of the unborn child’s right to life, pro-life advocates say.

This marks a reversal from the immediate aftermath of the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization ruling. In May 2022, shortly after a draft opinion leaked, 53% favored legality in all or most circumstances — the first majority for that view in Gallup’s long-running trend. Support for expansive abortion has since receded, returning the country to a narrow but meaningful preference for pro-life limits.

The findings come as 19 states enforce strong protections for the unborn with some banning abortions, some protecting babies at 6 weeks and some protecting babies later, reflecting state-level decisions enabled by Dobbs. ---More...