---
title: "Public Opinion on Abortion and Roe v. Wade"
description: "Public Opinion on Abortion and Roe v. Wade 2013-01-18 Jan. 22, 2013, is the 40th anniversary of the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion. A quarter of the U.S. public (25%) sees abortion as morally wrong and would like to have the decision completely overturned, according to a recent Pew Research Center survey."
date: "2013-01-22"
authors:
  - name: "Joseph Liu"
    job_title: "Guest Contributor"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2013/01/22/public-opinion-on-abortion-and-roe-v-wade/"
categories:
  - "Abortion"
  - "Politics & Policy"
  - "Religion & Abortion"
  - "Religion & Social Values"
  - "Supreme Court"
---

# Public Opinion on Abortion and Roe v. Wade

Jan. 22, 2013, is the 40th anniversary of the Supreme Court’s *Roe v. Wade* decision legalizing abortion. A quarter of the U.S. public (25%) sees abortion as morally wrong and would like to have the decision completely overturned, according to a recent Pew Research Center [survey](https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/Abortion/roe-v-wade-at-40.aspx). Roughly one-in-five (18%) sees abortion as morally wrong but does not think the decision should be overturned. About four-in-ten U.S. adults (42%) do not see abortion as morally wrong, at least not in all cases, and do not think *Roe v. Wade* should be overturned. For more information, see the [full report](https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/Abortion/roe-v-wade-at-40.aspx).

![abortion-graphic-mock](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2013/01/PF_13.01.16_abortionMoralityRoevWade.png)