West Virginia’s 2024 abortion statistics by quarter were published throughout 2024 and into March 2025, showing that 11 more abortions occurred in the Mountain State in 2024 compared to 2023. In what follows, the information in the abortion report published by the state will be summarized. The data published by the state does not include the total number of abortions obtained by West Virginia residents out of state or the number of self-managed abortions on women outside of the healthcare system. The report does not contain the number of mail-order abortion drugs obtained by West Virginia residents prescribed by licensed abortion providers in other states under shield laws. In a separate section, the Charlotte Lozier Institute (CLI) will describe data provided by the Guttmacher Institute’s Monthly Abortion Provision Study that details the number of abortions obtained by West Virginia women in other states in 2023. 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.
In September 2022, brick-and-mortar abortions were prohibited in West Virginia by HB 302, and the law has remained in effect since its passage. Under this law, brick-and-mortar abortions (both drug-induced and surgical) are permitted in cases where the mother’s life or physical health is in danger or in cases of rape, incest, ectopic pregnancy, or if the fetus is deemed to be “nonviable.” The sexual assault and incest exceptions only apply to pregnancies within the first eight weeks of gestation and the first 14 weeks for minors.
West Virginia’s statute code defines abortion as,
[T]he use of any instrument, medicine, drug, or any other substance or device with intent to terminate the pregnancy of a patient known to be pregnant and with intent to cause the death and expulsion or removal of an embryo or a fetus. This term does not include the terms “intrauterine fetal demise” or “stillbirth” or “miscarriage” as defined in this section (§16-2R-2).
Because West Virginia only reported 27 abortions, CLI’s typical infographic displaying percentage changes is not included here.
Abortion Totals and Trends
In 2024, there were 27 abortions reported in West Virginia, an increase of 11 abortions from the previous year. There was an increase of 10 drug-induced abortions from 10 in 2023 to 20 in 2024 (Fig. 1). CLI estimates that West Virginia’s 2024 abortion rate was 0.1 abortions per 1,000 women ages 15 to 44, the same as it was in 2023 (Fig. 2).1 As of May 2025, three states have released 2024 abortion statistics, with West Virginia being the only one to report an increase in the number of abortions from the previous year.
State Report Summary
In 2024, 59% of abortions performed in West Virginia were on state residents, and 33% were on women from other states. Of the nine nonresident abortions, three each were performed on Kentucky, Ohio, and Pennsylvania residents. Two abortions were performed on girls ages 15 to 19 and seven were performed on women ages 20 to 24. Ten abortions were performed on women ages 25 to 29 while seven were performed on women ages 30 to 34. One abortion was performed on a woman whose age was unknown.
In 2024, seven abortions were performed at eight weeks of gestation or earlier and one each was performed at 9 to 10 weeks of gestation and 11 to 12 weeks of gestation. Five abortions were performed between 13 and 15 weeks of gestation while seven were performed between 16 and 19 weeks of gestation. Four abortions were performed at 20 weeks of gestation or later, while two abortions were performed at unknown gestational ages. Seventy-four percent of West Virginia abortions were drug-induced, while 19% were performed using dilation and evacuation procedures. One abortion each was performed using other surgical or unknown methods. Nine of the 27 abortions performed in West Virginia in 2024 were paid for via private insurance, while 10 were paid for using Medicaid. One abortion was paid for via self-pay, and the payment method for seven abortions was unknown.
Exceptions to the State’s Life-at-Conception Law
All 27 abortions performed in the state in 2024 were performed because of exceptions to the state’s life-at-conception law. The state does not report the “reasons” for abortion data in a mutually exclusive manner, so CLI has broken down the reasons in percentages to make it easier to understand. Because more than one reason can be given per abortion, the percentages add up to more than 100%. Forty-six percent of abortions were performed because the fetus was non-medically viable, while 42% listed a life-threatening maternal condition as a reason.2 In 17% of abortions, a congenital anomaly was listed as a reason for the abortion.
Guttmacher Data3
Guttmacher estimated the number of abortions that were obtained by West Virginia residents who traveled to other states to obtain an abortion in 2023. Even though Guttmacher’s data is from 2023 while this article reports data published by the state for the year 2024, it is still helpful to include Guttmacher data to show that while brick-and-mortar abortions are largely prohibited in the state, women can still obtain abortions elsewhere. To see the number of abortions obtained by West Virginia women in various states according to Guttmacher, see the following table:
| States Traveled to by West Virginia Women | # of Abortions Obtained by West Virginia Women who Traveled to Other States to get Abortions, 2023 |
| Maryland | 780 |
| Pennsylvania | 600 |
| Virginia | 540 |
| Ohio | 230 |
| Total | 2,150 |
State Ranking
In CLI’s 2024 reevaluation of states’ abortion reporting requirements, West Virginia ranked 15th amongst the 50 states, D.C., and NYC. To further improve its reporting, West Virginia could collect and report data on complications caused by abortions, as many other states do.
- National rates were calculated by the Guttmacher Institute. West Virginia rates were calculated by CLI using the following formula: (total number of abortions performed in West Virginia Ă· 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 from 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. Rates for 2024 were calculated using the Vintage 2023 postcensal estimates because 2024 population estimates have not yet been released by the CDC.
- CLI is reporting on this information as it appeared in West Virginia’s abortion report. However, it is important to note that the cases described as exceptions to the state’s abortion law are not the same as elective abortions. They are descriptions of medical care allowed under the state’s law to save the life or physical health of the mother. The state law differentiates these medical procedures from an elective abortion which, when performed, has the sole intent of causing the death of an unborn baby.
- 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 self-managed abortions or those obtained by women in pro-life states under shield laws. This information is updated as of April 24, 2025.
