Elective Abortions in Minnesota Hit Record Low

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Minnesota health officials say the number of elective abortions in the state hit a record low in 2015.

The Minneapolis Star Tribune reports state data released Friday shows 9,861 elective abortions took place in the state last year, the lowest annual number in 35 years of reporting by the state Department of Health. The highest total on record is 19,028 in 1980.

The report noted 872 teens obtained abortions, down from 1,907 in 2008. Abortions among women 30 years old or older increased slightly to 3,360 procedures, the most since 2008.

Planned Parenthood preformed 51 percent of the elective abortions in the state in 2015, the first time that any other organization performed more than half of the abortions in Minnesota.