New National Poll Finds Americans Strongly Support Global Reproductive Health and Reproductive Freedom

As the United States marks 250 years since declaring liberty a foundational American value, a new national poll commissioned by PAI and conducted by YouGov finds that Americans overwhelmingly believe reproductive health care is a fundamental part of personal freedom, and that supporting the health and rights of women and girls around the world reflects American values and global leadership.

The findings come at a time when the Trump-Vance administration has dismantled decades of U.S. leadership on global health and human rights, shuttering foreign assistance programs and expanding policies that restrict access to contraception, maternal and child health services, and protections against gender-based violence. Against this backdrop, the survey demonstrates that Americans continue to support reproductive freedom and U.S. leadership on behalf of women and girls around the world.

“This survey makes one thing abundantly clear: reproductive freedom remains a core American value,” said Nabeeha Kazi Hutchins, President and CEO of PAI. “Americans believe that everyone should have the freedom to make their own reproductive health decisions, that the U.S. should stand with women and girls around the world, and that our global leadership should reflect those values. Americans reject the false choice between investing at home and supporting women and girls around the world. When women and girls are healthy and safe, communities are stronger, economies are more resilient, and the United States is a more effective global leader.”

The survey of registered voters found that:

• 78% agree that access to reproductive health care—including birth control, safe abortion services, and menstrual health information—is a basic part of personal freedom.
• 72% believe it is important for the United States to support the health, safety, and rights of women and girls worldwide because doing so reflects American values and leadership.
• 56% believe the administration should release funding that Congress has already appropriated for programs including clean water, food, maternal health, and reproductive health in low-income countries.
• U.S. global reproductive health assistance costs the average taxpayer less than $4 per year. 70% support maintaining or increasing U.S. investment.
• Americans are twice as likely to say cutting funding for global women’s health programs weakens America’s standing in the world (42%) than strengthens it (21%).

The poll was conducted by YouGov with more than 1,000 registered U.S. voters. The margin of error is ±4.1 percentage points. Survey respondents were weighted to be representative of registered U.S. voters.

About PAI: PAI is a global leader in advancing reproductive health, maternal and newborn health, human rights and gender equality. For 60 years, PAI has worked alongside grassroots organizations, advocates, and policymakers in the United States and across more than 35 countries to expand access to reproductive health care and ensure the rights, safety ambitions and freedom of women and youth are recognized and respected.

PAI has launched the Freedom Starts With Her campaign, which is mobilizing advocates, policymakers, and supporters to advance reproductive freedom in the United States and around the world. Freedom starts with the ability to decide if and when to become pregnant, to access lifesaving health care, and to live free from violence and coercion. These freedoms are the foundation of healthier families, stronger communities, and a safer, more prosperous world.  To learn more go to freedomstartswithher.org