1.2 million   Abortions performed in the United States in 2005, the most recent year for which data are available. (They are down 25% since 1990).

4.3 million   U.S. births in 2006, the highest number since 1961.

(Sources: Guttmacher Institute, Associated Press)



46%   Voters who say "moral values" are "very important" when deciding whom to vote for (85% say "important").

30%   Of those who say "moral values" are very important, those who mean candidates' position on issues like abortion (14%) or gay rights (3%).

78%   Of those who say "moral values" are very important, those who mean personal characteristics of the candidates, like honesty (28%) and integrity (11%).

(Source: Harris Interactive)



83%   Americans who believe the display of a nativity scene on city property, such as city hall, should be legal.

60%   Americans who believe the display of a scene honoring Islam on city property should be legal during Ramadan. Evangelicals and weekly churchgoers are not significantly more or less likely to show this disparity.

(Source: Ellison Research)



$24 billion   Projected embezzlement from churches and Christian institutions in 2008.

$23 billion   Income of global foreign missions in 2008.

(Source: International Bulletin of Missionary Research)

Related Elsewhere:

See our earlier Go Figure postings from February 2008, January 2008, December 2007, November 2007, October 2007, September 2007, August 2007, July 2007, June 2007, May 2007, April 2007, March 2007, and earlier issues.

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