Gallup poll: American attitudes on abortion remain largely unchanged

The latest Gallup polling on abortion found that American attitudes on abortion have mostly remained stable since the fall of Roe v. Wade in 2022, with a slight increase in certain pro-life sentiments.

Key Takeaways:

• In 2022, the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization decision overturned Roe v. Wade.

• Gallup polling found at the time that a slight majority of Americans supported legal abortion.

• Today, 49% of respondents would make abortion illegal in all or most circumstances, while 48% would have it legal in all or most circumstances.

The Details:

In 2022, after Roe, Gallup reported 53% of Americans wanted abortion to be legal "in all or most circumstances" (the circumstances of which remain undefined), the majority view for the first time ever. Four years later, the divide between those who support legal abortion and those who oppose it has narrowed, with pro-life sentiments taking a slight lead.

In the latest Gallup poll, 49% of respondents said they want abortion illegal in all or most circumstances, compared to 48% who want it legal:

According to Gallup’s May 1-17 Values and Beliefs poll, 48% of Americans would prefer abortion be legal in all (33%) or most (15%) circumstances, while 49% prefer it to be illegal (17%) or legal in only a few circumstances (32%).

This split is similar to the close division of views on legality generally seen since 2022, but it contrasts with the quarter century before, when majorities of Americans consistently favored having abortion be legal in only a few circumstances or not at all....

A slight majority of U.S. adults continue to identify as pro-choice, and a plurality consider abortion morally acceptable. The country has shifted from leaning toward more restrictive abortion laws to being split between restrictive and expansive laws.

Zoom In:

As Dr. Michael New pointed out at National Review, these slight gains occurred despite a strong cultural support for abortion in the media:

During the past few years, supporters of legal abortion and their allies in the mainstream media have worked overtime to argue that Dobbs caused a surge in public support for legal abortion. It is true that some polls did show modest gains in “pro-choice” sentiment after the Dobbs leak.

However, it should be noted that not one pro-life incumbent has lost a statewide election since Dobbs. This includes governors who signed strong pro-life laws. More important, this poll adds to a body of survey data that pro-life sentiment has rebounded in the past four years.

Polling from last year likewise indicates a surge in pro-life views, with several polls showing the highest number of pro-life responses since Dobbs. Still more polling found the number of young adults who call themselves pro-life is growing.

Notably, when polling asks specific questions regarding circumstances or gestational age, results show even greater pro-life results. In January 2026, the Marist/Knights of Columbus poll found that "most respondents — despite the majority also identifying as 'pro-choice"'instead of 'pro-life' — support restricting abortion to the first trimester and/or to cases of life of the mother, rape, or incest," as reported by Live Action News at the time. "57% of respondents support limiting elective abortions to no later than the first trimester."

The Bottom Line:

It is encouraging for the pro-life movement to see gains in abortion-related polling, no matter how small.