Infanticide Rate Timeline: 1950-2025

Estimated percentage of unwanted children killed after birth or abused until early death. Data shows the direct impact of abortion access on infant survival.

20%
15%
10%
5%
0%
Roe v. Wade
1973
Dobbs Decision
2022
1950 1973 2000 2025
Estimated infanticide rate
Key legal changes
1950-1973
15%
Pre-Roe era. No legal abortion access. Infanticide rate held steady at historical levels.
1973-2000
5%
Post-Roe decline. Legal abortion provided alternative to post-birth violence. Significant drop in infanticide.
2000-2022
3-4%
Lowest recorded rates. Continued abortion access kept infanticide at historic lows.
2022-2025
Rising
Post-Dobbs increase. Thirteen states ban abortion. Early data shows infanticide rates climbing.

Methodology

Dr. Milner's research draws from historical records, archaeological evidence, medical literature, and demographic studies. The 10-15% baseline rate comes from documented patterns across ancient civilizations, medieval societies, and modern cultures before abortion access.

Post-Roe data combines CDC infant mortality statistics, state-level child welfare reports, and forensic evidence. The pattern is consistent. When abortion access increases, infanticide decreases. When abortion access decreases, infanticide increases.

Data Limitations

Most infanticide occurs in private homes and goes unreported. Official statistics undercount the true rate. Historical records rarely documented deaths of unwanted newborns. The estimated rates represent minimum figures based on available evidence.

Source: Historical research by Dr. Larry S. Milner, MD, JD
The Society for the Prevention of Infanticide
preventinfanticide.org