One problem we have highlighted in the past is the number of abortions Arkansas “exports” to women in other states.
Each year hundreds of women travel to Arkansas for abortions. Many of these women come from neighboring states like Mississippi, Tennessee, Texas, and Missouri.
A recent report from the Arkansas Department of Health shows that may be changing: The number of women coming to Arkansas for abortions has dropped significantly in the past two years.
In 2014, 925 women from out-of-state had abortions in Arkansas; in 2016 that number fell to 534.
The report also shows the number of abortions being performed on Arkansans has fallen to record lows. There were over 2,000 fewer abortions performed on women from Arkansas last year than there were 15 years before.
While it’s often difficult to say for sure what is behind these changes, one reason for the decline could be new pro-life laws passed in recent years–such as the improved informed-consent law the Arkansas Legislature passed in 2015.
The bottom line is this: Fewer unborn children are being killed and fewer women are being harmed by abortion. That’s a very good thing.
Below is a breakdown of the abortion numbers from 2000-2016.
| Year | Arkansas Residents | Out-of-State Residents |
| 2000 | 4,548 | 953 |
| 2001 | 4,981 | 943 |
| 2002 | 4,511 | 805 |
| 2003 | 4,582 | 826 |
| 2004 | 3,835 | 808 |
| 2005 | 4,062 | 633 |
| 2006 | 4,292 | 696 |
| 2007 | 4,132 | 712 |
| 2008 | 4,054 | 735 |
| 2009 | 3,960 | 620 |
| 2010 | 3,937 | 595 |
| 2011 | 3,523 | 510 |
| 2012 | 3,361 | 421 |
| 2013 | 3,205 | 527 |
| 2014 | 3,148 | 925 |
| 2015 | 3,070 | 701 |
| 2016 | 2,673 | 534 |
