Planned Parenthood Cements Status as MN’s Leading Abortion Provider

Planned Parenthood performed more abortions than ever in Minnesota in 2016.

Credit: Fibonacci Blue

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Despite Minnesota’s declining abortion numbers, Planned Parenthood continues to increase the amount of abortions they perform each year.

According to the latest abortion report from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), Planned Parenthood performed 5,629 abortions in Minnesota last year. That is an 11.5 percent increase from the 5,048 performed in 2015.

Additionally, last year Planned Parenthood performed 56.5 percent of abortions statewide, an historic high for the abortion provider. Since MDH started their annual abortion report in 1998, Planned Parenthood has been gradually increasing the number of abortions they perform each year, only briefly falling three years in over two decades.

“This data confirms once again that Planned Parenthood means abortion,” Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life Executive Director Scott Fischbach said in a news release. “As an organization that takes credit for the overall decline in abortions, Planned Parenthood has lost all credibility. It is clear it’s goal is to perform as many abortions as possible, and it does so year after year.”

This record level of abortions for Planned Parenthood comes while Minnesota’s overall abortion numbers are on the decline. In 2016, 9,953 abortions were performed in Minnesota. This was slightly up from the 2015 total of 9,861, but still reflects a downward trend in statewide abortions.

According to the MDH report, the vast majority cited not wanting children “at this time” as the primary reason for pursuing an abortion. Economic concerns was the second most cited reason. MDH also reports women ages 20 to 29 were the most likely to receive an abortion.

To read the full 2016 report and other previous years, click here.

Christine Bauman