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Newly released state figures confirm that Kansas recorded its second straight year of abortion totals surpassing pre-2022 levels, the period before the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. The data underscores a sustained and significant increase in procedures provided within the state.
According to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, nearly 20,000 abortions were performed in Kansas in 2024, the latest year with available statistics. Most patients were not Kansas residents, reflecting the state’s growing role in regional abortion access.
Out-of-State Patients Drive Higher Demand
Emily Wales, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Plains, which operates clinics in Kansas and Missouri, said the surge in patients is likely becoming a long-term reality.
Since the 2022 Supreme Court ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade, many Southern and Midwestern states have enacted strict limits or outright bans on abortion.
As a result, Kansas providers are seeing sustained pressure on their systems. Wales noted that while clinics have adapted, demand still stretches capacity at times, meaning patients may experience longer wait times for care.
2024 Abortion Statistics at a Glance
Kansas recorded 19,811 abortions in 2024, a modest increase from 19,467 in 2023. This figure is more than double the 7,849 abortions reported in 2021, the final full year before Roe v. Wade was overturned.
Key details from the 2024 data include:
- 15,048 abortions involved patients from outside Kansas
- Most out-of-state patients traveled from Texas, Ohio, and Missouri
- Individuals aged 20–24 accounted for the largest share of procedures
- 14,825 abortions occurred before nine weeks of gestation
- Abortion remains legal in Kansas up to 22 weeks of pregnancy
Legal Landscape Shaping Access in Kansas
A 2019 Kansas Supreme Court decision affirmed a constitutional right to abortion within the state. Voters reinforced that ruling in 2022, rejecting a proposed constitutional amendment that would have removed those protections.
Several restrictions outlined under the Women’s Right to Know Act—including mandatory counseling and a 24-hour waiting period—are currently not enforced due to ongoing court challenges. This legal environment has played a role in expanding access, according to reproductive rights attorneys.
Concerns Raised by Anti-Abortion Advocates
Mackenzie Ayers, communications director for Kansans for Life, said the rollback of certain restrictions has turned Kansas into a destination state for abortion services.
She argues that fewer safeguards may put women at risk and says patients deserve full transparency and information.
Ayers also highlighted concerns involving minors. State records show 35 girls aged 10–14 obtained abortions in Kansas in 2024, including seven Kansas residents.
Overall, the abortion rate among minors rose by nearly 47% compared to the previous year, a trend Ayers says warrants serious scrutiny regarding parental involvement and child protection.
What Reproductive Rights Attorneys Say
Alice Wang, senior staff attorney with the Center for Reproductive Rights, is part of the legal team representing abortion providers challenging state restrictions. She said the temporary blocking of several abortion laws allowed providers to focus on patient care rather than regulatory hurdles.
Wang noted that the 2024 data reflects Kansas’s role as a critical access point for people living in states with abortion bans. She emphasized that limiting abortion does not erase the need for it, but instead pushes patients to travel longer distances for time-sensitive medical care.
Kansas’s latest abortion data highlights a clear post-Roe reality: demand has not disappeared—it has shifted. With legal protections still in place and restrictions tied up in court, Kansas has become a regional hub for abortion access.
While providers continue to adapt to increased demand, the debate remains deeply divided, with advocates on both sides pointing to safety, access, and patient protections. What is evident from the numbers is that Kansas now plays a central role in the broader national landscape of reproductive health care.