Women who became mothers earlier in their lives earn less money over time than women who had an abortion or never became pregnant, according to a new study led by scholars at Rice University in Houston and the University of Sheffield in England.
The study authors reviewed data from 1979 to 2020 regarding 6,218 participants in the United States to examine how having an abortion, compared with becoming a parent or not experiencing pregnancy at all, is related to women’s long-term economic trajectories. Their analysis revealed that women who had an abortion and those who did not become pregnant earned significantly more over a 30-year period than those who became mothers.
When adjusting for inflation, the authors determined women who had an abortion earned an estimated $495,000 more in 2025 dollars than women who became mothers. Women who had never experienced pregnancy earned $556,000 more in 2025 dollars than those who became mothers.
The authors believe these findings suggest reproductive decisions during a woman’s early career have critical implications for her economic mobility. In addition to protecting access to contraception and abortion, the researchers call on policymakers to prioritize structural family support mechanisms, like job-protected paid parental leave and subsidized childcare, to support mothers’ career advancement.