The online survey of representative samples in the three countries asked respondents whether they personally believe 21 issues are “morally acceptable” or “morally wrong.” Respondents in the United States are less likely to see 11 of the issues tested as morally acceptable:

- Contraception (79%, compared to 91% in both Canada and Britain).
- Divorce (65% in the U.S., compared with 80% in Canada and 79% in Britain).
- Sexual relations between an unmarried man and woman (59% in the U.S., compared to 83% in Canada and 82% in Britain).
- Having a baby outside of marriage (53% in U.S., compared to 78% in Canada and 74% in Britain).
- Medical research using stem cells obtained from human embryos (52%, compared to 65% in Canada and 56% in Britain).
- Sexual relations between two people of the same sex (40%, compared to 64% in Canada and 58% in Britain).
- Abortion (36%, compared to 60% in Canada and 54% Britain).
- Doctor-assisted suicide (35% in the U.S., compared to 65% in Canada and 61% in Britain).
- Pornography (32%, compared to 42% in Canada and 40% in Britain).
- Prostitution (23%, compared to 41% in Canada and 34% in Britain).
- Suicide (13%, compared to 22% in Canada and 29% in Britain).

Britons are less likely to find four issues as morally acceptable than their North American counterparts:

- Gambling (60%, compared to 63% in the U.S. and 70% in Canada).
- The death penalty (50%, compared to 58% in the U.S. and 53% in Canada).
- Medical testing on animals (29%, compared to 31% in the U.S. and 38% in Canada).
- Buying and wearing clothing made of animal fur (21%, compared to 42% in the U.S. and 50% in Canada).

Less than three-in-ten respondents in all countries believe cloning animals (CAN 26%, USA 23%, BRI 20%) and using illegal drugs (CAN 24%, USA 17%, BRI 16%) are morally acceptable, and less than one-in-six respondents feel the same way about married men and/or women having an affair, polygamy, cloning humans and paedophilia.

Full Report, Detailed Tables and Methodology (PDF)

CONTACT:

Mario Canseco, Vice President, Angus Reid Public Opinion
+877 730 3570
mario.canseco@angus-reid.com

Full Methodology Details

The margin of error—which measures sampling variability—is +/-2.2% for Great Britain and +/-3.1% for Canada and the United States. The results have been statistically weighted according to the most current education, age, gender and region Census data to ensure a sample representative of the entire adult population of each country.

In the online survey of a representative national sample of 1,009 Canadian adults, 45 per cent of respondents mistakenly assume that a woman can have an abortion only during the first three months of her pregnancy, with no other restrictions.

Regulation

More than a third of Canadians (35%) currently support the status-quo, with women being able to have an abortion at any time during their pregnancy, with no restrictions whatsoever. Only one-in-twenty respondents (5%) would actually forbid women from having an abortion.

However, a majority of Canadians express a preference to regulate abortion in different ways, such as allowing the procedure only during the first three months of a pregnancy or exclusively in cases such as danger to the mother, if a woman has been the victim of rape, or if the fetus has serious defects. In fact, while 43 per cent of men would like to keep the status-quo, this notion is supported by only 27 per cent of women.

Personal Feeling and Legality

When asked about their personal feelings on abortion, more than two-in-five Canadians (44%) believe the procedure should be permitted in all cases, while five per cent think it should never be allowed. An additional 45 per cent of respondents would place greater restrictions, or consent to abortion in cases such as rape, incest and to save the woman’s life.

Almost half of Canadians (47%) think abortion should be legal under any circumstances, including 57 per cent of Quebecers and 49 per cent of British Columbians. Two-in-five Canadians (41%) would allow a pregnancy to be terminated only under certain circumstances, while seven per cent would deem the procedure illegal in all circumstances.

The Health Care System and a New Debate

Canadians are divided when assessing the role of the health care system in providing abortions. While 43 per cent of respondents think the health care system should fund abortions whenever they are requested, 42 per cent believe the procedure should only be funded in the event of medical emergencies. An additional seven per cent of Canadians think the health care system should not fund abortions at all.

Still, three-in-five Canadians (59%) believe there is no point in re-opening a debate about abortion in Canada right now, while three-in-ten (30%) think a debate about abortion is long overdue in Canada, and the discussion should be re-opened.

Analysis

A quarter century has passed since the R. v. Morgentaler Supreme Court of Canada decision that effectively deemed the abortion provision in the Criminal Code as unconstitutional. Across the country, some regional differences persist. Albertans are definitely more likely to back regulations on abortion, while Quebecers and British Columbians are less supportive on the personal feelings and legality questions.

Canadians over the age of 55 are decidedly more skeptical about particular issues related to abortion. Half of them would like to see the health care system fund abortions only in the event of medical emergencies, and a plurality would allow abortion only under certain circumstances.

Despite the fact that Canadians continue to have mixed personal feelings on abortion, and are divided on the way they perceive the legality and funding of the procedure, the appetite for true legislative action is lacking. The proportion of Canadians who are unwilling to re-open the debate on abortion outnumbers that of those who believe a debate on the issue of overdue by a 2-to-1 margin.

Full Report, Detailed Tables and Methodology (PDF)

CONTACT:

Mario Canseco, Vice President, Angus Reid Public Opinion
+877 730 3570
mario.canseco@angus-reid.com

Methodology: From January 11 to January 12, 2013, Angus Reid Public Opinion conducted an online survey among 1,009 randomly selected Canadian adults who are Angus Reid Forum panellists. The margin of error—which measures sampling variability—is +/- 3.1%, 19 times out of 20. The results have been statistically weighted according to the most current education, age, gender and region Census data to ensure a sample representative of the entire adult population of Canada. Discrepancies in or between totals are due to rounding.

In the online survey of a representative national sample of 1,004 American adults, three-in-five respondents (62%) would want the Supreme Court to uphold the Roe v. Wade ruling if the case came before the court again, while three-in-ten (28%) would prefer to overturn the decision.

Democrats (79%) and Independents (69%) are more likely to voice support for upholding Roe v. Wade than Republicans (43%).

Half of Americans (50%) think there is no point in re-opening a debate about abortion in the U.S. right now, while just over a third (35%) believe a debate about abortion is long overdue in the U.S. and the discussion should be re-opened.

When asked about their personal feeling about abortion, three-in-ten Americans (31%) believe pregnancy termination should be permitted in all cases, while a similar proportion (29%) would only allow it in cases such as rape, incest and to save the woman’s life. Nine per cent of respondents would only permit abortion to save a woman’s life, and 11 per cent would never allow the procedure. Finally, 15 per cent of Americans would permit abortion, but subject to greater restrictions than now.

On the issue of legality, almost half of Americans (47%) believe abortion should be legal only under certain circumstances. One third of respondents (32%) think abortion should be legal under any circumstances, while 16 per cent say it should be illegal in all circumstances.

Seven-in-ten Americans (72%) think women under the age of 18 should require the consent of their parents or legal guardians in order to have an abortion.

Full Report, Detailed Tables and Methodology (PDF)

CONTACT:

Mario Canseco, Vice President, Angus Reid Public Opinion
+877 730 3570
mario.canseco@angus-reid.com

Methodology: From January 17 to January 18, 2013, Angus Reid Public Opinion conducted an online survey among 1,004 American adults who are Springboard America panelists. The margin of error—which measures sampling variability—is +/- 3.1%. The results have been statistically weighted according to the most current education, age, gender and region Census data to ensure a sample representative of the entire adult population of the United States. Discrepancies in or between totals are due to rounding.

The online survey of a representative sample of 1,005 American adults also shows that respondents are divided in their personal feelings about pregnancy termination, and that more than a third would like to re-open the debate about abortion.

Personal Feeling

Across the United States, one third of Americans (32%) express a personal view that abortion should be permitted in all cases, while one-in-six (16%) would permit abortion, but subject to greater restrictions than now. Three-in-ten Americans (30%) believe that abortion should be permitted only in cases such as rape, incest and to save the woman’s life, while 12 per cent would only permit abortion to save the woman’s life.

On the personal feeling question, women are more likely to endorse permitting abortion in all cases than men (35% to 29%), and this view is espoused by two-in-five Democrats (43%). Conversely, Republicans (36%) and respondents over the age of 55 (34%) are more likely to back the notion of only permitting abortion in cases of rape, incest and to save the woman’s life.

Legality

More than a third of Americans (35%) believe abortion should be legal under any circumstances, while practically half (48%) would allow the procedure only under certain circumstances. One-in-ten Americans (10%) think pregnancy termination should be illegal in all circumstances.

Democrats (46%) are more likely to voice support for the legality of abortion under any circumstances than Independents (31%) or Republicans (26%).

Minors

Despite the differences observed in the personal feeling and legality questions, the consensus on minors appears to be clear, with seven-in-ten Americans (72%) believing that women under the age of 18 should have the consent of their parents or legal guardians in order to have an abortion. The lowest level of support for this idea comes from Democrats (61%) and the highest from Republicans (83%).

A New Abortion Debate

Almost half of Americans (47%) believe there is no point in re-opening the debate about abortion in the U.S. right now, while more than one third (36%) think a debate about abortion is long overdue and the discussion should be re-opened. The groups that are most interested in re-visiting the abortion debate are Republicans (44%), men (40%) and respondents over the age of 55 (40%).

Analysis

Americans continue to hold dissimilar personal views on the issue of abortion, and the notion of a new national debate on pregnancy termination continues to be attractive mostly to Republicans. Democrats and Independents are not convinced about this course of action.

On this divisive topic, there are two issues where Americans continue to find agreement. Most respondents coalesce around the idea that pregnancy termination should be legal under certain circumstances, and a sizeable majority across all demographics supports the notion of minors only seeking to terminate a pregnancy with the consent of their parents or guardians.

Our previous polls on abortion in the United States can be accessed here:
January 2010 / July 2010 / October 2011

Full Report, Detailed Tables and Methodology (PDF)

CONTACT:

Mario Canseco, Vice President, Angus Reid Public Opinion
+877 730 3570
mario.canseco@angus-reid.com

Methodology: From June 19 to June 20, 2012, Angus Reid Public Opinion conducted an online survey among 1,005 randomly selected American adults who are Springboard America panelists. The margin of error—which measures sampling variability—is +/- 3.1%. The results have been statistically weighted according to the most current education, age, gender and region Census data to ensure a sample representative of the entire adult population of the United States. Discrepancies in or between totals are due to rounding.

In the online survey of a representative sample of 2,018 British adults, three-in-ten respondents (30%) think the National Health Service (NHS) should fund abortions whenever they are requested, while a majority (56%) believe the NHS should only fund abortions in the event of medical emergencies, and six per cent want the NHS to never fund abortions.

In the United Kingdom, it is only legal to have an abortion during the first 24 weeks of pregnancy, provided that certain criteria are met. Almost half of Britons (48%) believe the time limit on abortion should be reduced to less than 24 weeks, just over a third (36%) think the current guidelines are adequate, and three per cent would extend the time limit to more than 24 weeks.

When asked about their personal feeling on abortion, three-in-ten respondents (31%) believe abortion should be permitted in all cases, while a slightly larger proportion (35%) would subject the procedure to greater restrictions than now. One-in-five Britons (21%) would permit abortion only in cases of rape, incest and to save the woman’s life, while one-in-twenty (5%) would allow pregnancy termination only to save the woman’s life.

A majority of Britons (57%) believe abortion should be legal only under certain circumstances, while one third (33%) think the procedure should be legal under any circumstances. Just four per cent of respondents would make abortion illegal under any circumstances.

Half of Britons (49%) believe women under the age of 18 should require the consent of their parents or legal guardians in order to have an abortion, and two-in-five (40%) think women in the United Kingdom have access to enough information about alternatives to abortion, such as adoption or counselling.

Respondents are divided on whether a debate on abortion is warranted, with 42 per cent saying that there is no point on re-opening this issue, and 40 per cent thinking a discussion on abortion in the UK is long overdue.

Gender Differences

The views of men and women do not go through any dramatic fluctuations on the personal feeling and legality questions. When it comes to the role of the NHS, men are more likely than women (59% to 53%) to endorse the idea of abortions only being funded in the event of medical emergencies. Male respondents are also more likely to call for women under the age of 18 to have the consent of their parents or legal guardians in order to have an abortion (52% to 45%).

The biggest gender gap is on the time limit question. Only one third of men (35%) would reduce it to less than 24 weeks, while three-in-five women (59%) are in favour of a reduction. Women are also more likely to call for re-opening the debate on abortion than men (44% to 37%).

Download Full Tables

Download Full Methodology Statement

Full Report, Detailed Tables and Methodology (PDF)

CONTACT:

Mario Canseco, Vice President, Angus Reid Public Opinion
+877 730 3570
mario.canseco@angus-reid.com

Methodology: From March 6 to March 7, 2012, Angus Reid Public Opinion conducted an online survey among 2,018 randomly selected British adults who are Springboard UK panelists. The margin of error—which measures sampling variability—is +/- 2.2%. The results have been statistically weighted according to the most current education, age, gender and region data to ensure samples representative of the entire adult population of Great Britain. Discrepancies in or between totals are due to rounding.

In the online survey of a representative sample of 1,001 Canadian adults, 51 per cent of respondents believe there should be laws which outline when a woman can have an abortion in Canada. Conversely, 37 per cent of Canadians think there should be no laws on this matter and want women to have the unrestricted right to have an abortion at any time up to the moment of birth.

Among the most populated provinces, Alberta (59%) has the highest proportion of respondents who want to establish abortion laws, while two-in-five Quebecers (40%) would not make any changes. More than half of Conservative and Liberal voters in the 2011 federal election (57% and 52% respectively) call for regulations, while Green Party and New Democratic Party (NDP) voters (51% and 47% respectively) disagree with this notion.

Earlier this month, Rajendra Kale, editor-in-chief of the Canadian Medical Journal (CMAJ), suggested in an editorial that a fetus’s gender should not be revealed to expecting parents until after 30 weeks of pregnancy, in order to prevent female feticide.

Across the country, three-in-five Canadians (60%)—and two-thirds of women (66%)—believe there should be laws which outline whether a woman can have an abortion based solely on the gender of the fetus. Three-in-ten respondents (30%) think a woman should have the unrestricted right to have an abortion in any circumstance.

It is important to note that, while there is a noticeable dissimilarity between supporters of specific political parties on the overall question of abortion laws, a majority of people who voted for each one of the five major parties in 2011 believe that there should be a regulation to deal with gender-based abortion.

Review our August 2010 survey on abortion.

Full Report, Detailed Tables and Methodology (PDF)

CONTACT:

Mario Canseco, Vice President, Angus Reid Public Opinion
+877 730 3570
mario.canseco@angus-reid.com

Methodology: From January 19 to January 20, 2012, Angus Reid Public Opinion conducted an online survey among 1,001 randomly selected Canadian adults who are Angus Reid Forum panellists. The margin of error—which measures sampling variability—is +/- 3.1%, 19 times out of 20. The results have been statistically weighted according to the most current education, age, gender and region Census data to ensure a sample representative of the entire adult population of Canada. Discrepancies in or between totals are due to rounding.

In the online survey of a representative national sample of 1,005 Americans, 42 per cent of respondents believe there is no point in re-opening a debate about abortion in the U.S. right now, while 37 per cent think a debate about abortion is long overdue in the U.S., and the discussion should be re-opened.

Personal Feeling

Americans hold a wide range of feelings on abortion, with one-in-five respondents (21%) saying that the procedure should be permitted in all cases.

However, a sizeable proportion of Americans (27%) would only allow abortion in cases such as rape, incest and to save the woman’s life, while 13 per cent would consent to the procedure only if it is performed to save the woman’s life.

In addition, eight per cent of respondents would subject abortion to greater restrictions, while 18 per cent believe the same restrictions that are currently in place are sufficient.

Legality

Half of Americans (49%) believe abortion should be legal under certain circumstances, while three-in-ten (29%) would only allow it under certain circumstances, and 14 per cent would make the procedure illegal. Women (32%) are more likely than men (25%) to call for legal abortion under any circumstances.

Information and Consent

Three-in-five Americans (74%) think women under the age of 18 should have the consent of their parents or legal guardians in order to have an abortion, and more than half (55%) say that pregnant women in the United States have access to enough information about alternatives to abortion, such as adoption or counseling.

Analysis

Republicans and Democrats are at odds on this issue, with almost half of respondents from each political stripe advocating for a different course of action. Many Republicans want to re-open the abortion debate, and are more likely to call for changes and allow the procedure only in cases of rape, incest and danger to the mother. Democrats tend to side more with the argument of either permitting abortion in all cases—or keeping the status quo—and believe the time is not right for a debate on abortion.

Independents are closer to the views of Democrats in the questions of personal feeling and parental consent, but are not as certain about the idea of re-opening the abortion debate at this time.

Our previous polls on abortion in the United States can be accessed here: January 2010 / July 2010

Full Report, Detailed Tables and Methodology (PDF)

CONTACT:

Mario Canseco, Vice President, Angus Reid Public Opinion
+877 730 3570
mario.canseco@angus-reid.com

Methodology: From September 30 to October 2, 2011, Angus Reid Public Opinion conducted an online survey among 1,005 American adults who are Springboard America panelists. The margin of error—which measures sampling variability—is +/- 3.1%. The results have been statistically weighted according to the most current education, age, gender and region Census data to ensure a sample representative of the entire adult population of the United States.Discrepancies in or between totals are due to rounding.

Americans of all political stripes have a similar moral compass on issues such as contraception, divorce and infidelity, but some striking differences become evident when their party allegiance is assessed, a new Angus Reid Public Opinion poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative sample of 1,010 American adults, four-in-five respondents (80%) personally believe that contraception is morally acceptable.

At least half of respondents across the country feel the same way about gambling (68%), divorce (64%), sexual relations between an unmarried man and woman (64%), the death penalty (63%), medical research using stem cells obtained from human embryos (55%) and having a baby outside of marriage (52%).

More than a third of respondents think six other issues are morally acceptable: buying and wearing clothing made of animal fur (43%), sexual relations between two people of the same sex (40%), abortion (37%), doctor-assisted suicide (36%), medical testing on animals (34%) and pornography (33%).

Only a quarter of respondents believe prostitution (25%) and cloning animals (24%) are morally acceptable. Less than one-in-five feel the same way about using illegal drugs (18%), suicide (14%), polygamy (12%), cloning humans (11%), married men and/or women having an affair (8%) and pedophilia (4%).

Political Allegiance

Republicans are clearly not in agreement with Democrats and Independents on seven of the issues that were included in the survey, including medical research using stem cells obtained from human embryos (46%), having a baby outside of marriage (38%), abortion (27%), sexual relations between two people of the same sex (22%), pornography (22%), prostitution (16%) and illegal drugs (9%).

Democrats are more likely than the other two groups to find each issue as “morally acceptable” with the exception of three: the death penalty (57%), buying and wearing clothing made of animal fur (35%) and medical testing on animals (33%).

Independents are more likely to find sexual relations between an unmarried man and woman (73%) doctor-assisted suicide (42%), cloning animals (30%) and polygamy (16%) as “morally acceptable.”

Analysis

Republicans are evidently less accepting than other Americans when it comes to specific issues related to sex (same-sex relations, pornography and prostitution), and life (abortion, embryonic stem cell research). Democrats are at the other side of the spectrum on the treatment of animals (fur and medical testing) and are less likely to endorse the death penalty.

Independents are slightly closer to the Republicans on some moral issues (such as the death penalty and animal fur) and tend to side with the Democrats on others (such as prostitution and embryonic stem cell research).

Full Report, Detailed Tables and Methodology (PDF)

CONTACT:

Mario Canseco, Vice President, Communications & Media Relations
+877 730 3570
mario.canseco@angus-reid.com

Methodology: From September 30 to October 1, 2010, Angus Reid Public Opinion conducted an online survey among 1,010 American adults who are Springboard America panelists. The margin of error—which measures sampling variability—is +/- 3.1%. The results have been statistically weighted according to the most current education, age, gender and region Census data to ensure a sample representative of the entire adult population of the United States. Discrepancies in or between totals are due to rounding.

Conversely, 44 per cent of respondents say abortions should continue to be funded by the universal health care system whenever they are requested.

In Canada, the universality criterion establishes that all residents of a province or territory must be entitled to the insured, public-run health services provided by their provincial or territorial health care insurance plan on uniform terms and conditions.

In 1967, Canadian justice minister Pierre Trudeau presented a bill to partially liberalize abortion. On the same bill, Trudeau urged for the legalization of homosexuality and contraception, saying, "The state has no business in the bedrooms of the nation." The bill was signed into law in 1969, when Trudeau was prime minister.

In January 1988, Canada’s Supreme Court ruled—on an appeal filed by pro-abortion advocate Henry Morgentaler—that Canada’s abortion law was unconstitutional. Abortion is now legal in Canada with no limitation on when to perform it.

Earlier this year, Paul Szabo, a lawmaker with the federal opposition Liberal Party, said that a group of members of Parliament from his party and the governing Conservatives is planning to re-open the abortion debate in Canada, declaring, "Is [a vote] inevitable? I would say yes. (…) We will be back to reconsidering the question in the House [of Commons]. We’re taking incremental steps, small steps. It’s just a question of knowing when it’s the right time."

Polling Data

In Canada, abortions are provided on request to Canadian citizens and permanent residents, and are funded by the health care system. Which of these statements comes closer to your own point of view?

Complete Poll (PDF)

Version française (PDF)

Many Canadians ignore the fact that abortion procedures are not subject to any restrictions, a new Angus Reid Public Opinion poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative national sample of 1,022 Canadian adults, only 21 per cent of respondents know that in Canada a woman can request an abortion at any time during her pregnancy, with no restrictions whatsoever.

Conversely, 41 per cent of Canadians are under the impression that abortions are only available to women during the first three months of gestation.

Fifteen per cent of respondents think abortions are only allowed in the first trimester and only if the woman’s life is in danger, if there has been a rape, or if the foetus has serious complications.
One-in-ten think women can only have an abortion if their life is in danger, if there has been a rape, or if the foetus has serious complications.

Regulating Abortion

As for what Canadians would like abortion regulations to look like, the two most accepted options are the status quo (no restrictions) at 27%); and limiting the procedure to the first trimester without restrictions and then during the next six months but only if the woman’s life is in danger, if they have been the victim of rape, or if the foetus has serious defects (22%). No other option has the support from more than 15 per cent of Canadians.

Four-in-ten Canadians (41%) say they personally feel that abortions should be legal in all cases. A quarter (23%) support legal abortions but with some restrictions; 18 per cent only want legal abortions in cases of emergency; and nine per cent would only allow abortions to save a woman’s life.

Personal feeling differs slightly with what Canadians think the laws should regulate. Almost half of respondents (48%) say abortions should remain unrestricted, 42 per cent say they should be legal but restricted, and only six per cent say they should always be illegal.

Health Care

Canadians are divided on whether the state-run health care system should fund abortions or not: 44 per cent support funding in all cases, whereas 39 per cent support funding only in emergency situations.

Information and Consent

A majority of Canadians (55%) think women under the age of 18 should require consent from their parents or legal guardians to get an abortion; one third of respondents (32%) disagree.

While half of respondents (50%) consider that pregnant women have enough access to information about different options such as counselling and adoption, 31 per cent say they do not. A large majority (79%) would support provincial legislation demanding that health workers give information about alternatives to abortion to pregnant women.

A New Debate?

Although most Canadians (55%) think there is no point in re-opening the debate on abortion in the country, three-in-ten respondents (30%) believe it is time to re-open the discussion.

Our previous poll on abortion in Canada, conducted in January 2010, is available here.

Full Report, Detailed Tables and Methodology (PDF)

CONTACT:

Jaideep Mukerji, Vice President, Public Affairs
+514 409 0462
jaideep.mukerji@angus-reid.com

Methodology: From July 7 to July 8, 2010, Angus Reid Public Opinion conducted an online survey among 1,022 randomly selected Canadian adults who are Angus Reid Forum panelists. The margin of error—which measures sampling variability—is +/- 3.1%, 19 times out of 20. The results have been statistically weighted according to the most current education, age, gender and region Census data to ensure a sample representative of the entire adult population of Canada. Discrepancies in or between totals are due to rounding.