Abortion Reporting: Montana (2023)

Montana’s 2023 vital statistics report, which contains the state’s abortion data, was published by the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services in March 2025. The report shows that Montana abortions increased significantly in 2023. The data published by the state does not include the total number of abortions obtained by Montana residents out of state or the number of self-managed abortions on women outside of the healthcare system. It is also unlikely that the report contains the total number of mail-order abortion drugs obtained by Montana residents prescribed by licensed abortion providers in other states. In a separate section, Charlotte Lozier Institute (CLI) will describe data provided by the Guttmacher Institute’s Monthly Abortion Provision Study that details the total number of abortions occurring in the state in 2023 as estimated by Guttmacher’s sample survey and mathematical models. Guttmacher’s abortion estimates include the number of abortions obtained at brick-and-mortar facilities and those provided via telehealth and virtual providers in the United States.

Montana’s statute code defines abortion as “the use or prescription of any instrument, medicine, drug, or other substance or device to intentionally terminate the pregnancy of a woman known to be pregnant, with an intention other than to increase the probability of a live birth, to preserve the life or health of the child after live birth, or to remove a dead fetus” (§50-20-104).

In Montana, according to the law, abortion is prohibited after viability except in cases where a continued pregnancy would threaten the life or physical health of the mother (§50-20-113).

Statistics and Changes in Montana Abortions, 2022-2023

The report does not include information on Planned Parenthood’s Montana abortion market share.

Abortion Totals and Trends

In 2023, there were 2,175 abortions in Montana, an increase of 28% from the previous year. Drug-induced abortions increased by 38% from 2022 and constituted 82% of the 2023 Montana total (Fig. 1). CLI estimates that Montana’s abortion rate was 10.3 abortions per 1,000 women ages 15 to 44, an increase of 26% from 2022 (Fig. 2).¹ As of May 2025, 30 states have released 2023 abortion statistics, and 17 states reported that abortions had increased.

State Report Summary

Eighty-nine percent of Montana abortions reported in 2023 were performed on state residents. While the number of abortions on non-residents increased by 42%, the percentage of total abortions occurring in Montana that were obtained by nonresidents (11%) was virtually the same as it was in 2022 (10%).

Over half of the abortions were obtained by women in their twenties, with 32% obtained by women ages 20 to 24 and 24% by women ages 25 to 29. Twenty-nine percent of the abortions were performed on women ages 30 to 39. Five percent of Montana abortions were performed on women ages 40 and above, while 11% were performed on girls ages 19 and younger. A majority of Montana abortions were obtained by white women (84%), while 10% were obtained by American Indian/Alaska Native women. Unlike previous years, the 2023 vital statistics report did not include data on the number of women of other races who obtained abortions in the state. Because of this, the race was unknown for 6% of the abortions occurring in Montana.

Over half (53%) of the abortions reported in Montana were performed on women who hadn’t previously had a live birth, 22% on women who had one previous live birth, and a quarter on women with two or more previous live births. Fifty-four percent of the abortions were performed on women with no prior abortions, while 33% were performed on women with one prior abortion and 13% on women with more than one.

Over 80% of Montana abortions were drug-induced (82%), and 18% were surgical. Eighty-two percent of Montana abortions occurred at eight weeks of gestation or earlier. Thirteen percent were performed between nine and 13 weeks, and 2% were performed from 14 to 15 weeks. One percent were performed between 16 and 17 weeks of gestation, and 16 abortions (0.7%) occurred between 18 and 20 weeks. Four abortions were performed after 21 weeks and five were performed at unknown gestational ages. The number of abortions increased in every gestational age increment from 2022 to 2023, except the 14 to 15 weeks increment. The number of abortions performed before eight weeks increased the most significantly, numerically-speaking (by 444 abortions), while the number of abortions performed at or after 21 weeks increased the most percentage-wise (by 300%, from one to four abortions).

Breakdown of Abortion Providers in Montana²

2023 Guttmacher Data³

Guttmacher estimated that 2,460 abortions occurred in Montana in 2023, a total that is 13% higher than the one reported by the state. According to the state’s Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) in correspondence with CLI, the state’s abortion data does include telehealth abortions performed in the state (as does Guttmacher’s figure). Therefore, it is unclear why there is a discrepancy between the estimated total from Guttmacher and the state’s reported total.

In data published in February 2025 on 2023 abortions, Guttmacher noted that 16% of the 2,460 abortions that occurred in the state were provided via the mail by online-only abortion centers or organizations.⁴ In the email correspondence noted above, Montana DPHHS told CLI that one online-only center with abortionists licensed in other states voluntarily reports the number of abortion drugs they send to Montana, but that there could be more than one such center mailing abortion drugs into the state. It is unclear from Guttmacher’s data how many online-only centers the 16% figure entails.

State Ranking

In 2024, CLI published a paper reevaluating abortion reporting across the country, with Montana ranking as tied for 27^th place. To improve its reporting, Montana could state whether any babies survived abortion attempts. Montana could also incorporate additional abortion statistics into its vital statistics report, such as information on the facilities where abortions occur in the state—data which it collects but does not include in the state’s annual report. Lastly, Montana could report any complications that women experienced during and after abortions.

1. National rates were calculated by Guttmacher Institute. Montana rates were calculated by CLI using the following formula: (total number of abortions performed in Montana ÷ number of resident women ages 15-44 [based on most recent population estimates]) x 1,000. Rates may differ slightly from previous CLI articles due to revised population estimates. Population estimates were obtained using the CDC WONDER database. Estimates for 2005-2009 are intercensal estimates of the July 1 resident population. Estimates for 2010-2019 are Vintage 2020 postcensal estimates of the July 1 resident population. Estimates for 2020-2023 are Vintage 2023 postcensal estimates of the July 1 resident population. Estimates were produced by the U.S. Census Bureau and the National Center for Health Statistics.

2. Provider totals do not include hospitals or physician offices not listed in databases that compile abortion provider locations in different states but do include Planned Parenthood locations, independent abortion centers, and hospitals/doctor’s offices included in databases like Abortion Finder and Ineedana. This information is updated as of April 24, 2025.
3. The Guttmacher Institute notes that their monthly abortion totals by states are estimates and that each state’s estimate is within a range of uncertainty. Guttmacher also notes that their estimates do not reflect abortions obtained by women in pro-life states under shield laws in effect in pro-abortion states. This information is updated as of April 24, 2025.
4. This information can be found in the document titled “State_Medication_Abortion_Online_Only_Provision,” which can be found at this link: https://osf.io/k4x7t/files/osfstorage.

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