Abortion - Moral and Legal Position of Millennials and Baby Boomers

The two largest age groups in America have similar positions on the morality of abortion, but different views on its legality.

The Millennials (18-34) and Baby Boomers (51-69) are similarly divided on the morality of abortion reflecting the 57 percent of the public that believe abortion is morally wrong. Fifty-four percent of Millennials and 60 percent of Baby Boomers and older Americans believe abortion is wrong.

But Millennials are much more likely (70%) to believe abortion should be legal in all or most cases than Baby Boomers (56%).

Some observations:

• A majority of the main age categories believe abortion is immoral, but majority also believe it should be legal in all or most cases.
• At most, only 13% of Americans believe abortion should be illegal in all cases. Nearly twice as many (23%) believe it should be legal in all cases.
• A majority of the public (57%) believes abortion can be limited in some cases (i.e., legal in most – 33% or illegal in most cases – 24%), which is where much of the debate and political conflict has been located. 

See:
CNN/ORC International Jan. 2014 poll
Quinnipiac Nov. 25, 2014 poll