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The number of abortions performed in the United States has declined to its lowest level in more than three decades in 2011, a new report has found. 

The report released Monday said in 2011, around 16.9 abortions were carried out per 1,000 women in the age group between 15 and 44. The number is lowest since 1973 when the rate was found to be 16.9 abortions per 1,000. 

In the years between 2008 and 2011, the abortion rate fell by 13 percent. The reason was the procedures were performed increasingly earlier in the pregnancy, the report noted. 

In the same period, the number of abortions providers was measured to decline by four percent, whereas clinics offering the service declined by just one percent. 

"With abortion rates falling in almost all states, our study did not find evidence that the national decline in abortions during this period was the result of new state abortion restrictions," said Rachel Jones, lead author of the study in the press release.

"We also found no evidence that the decline was linked to a drop in the number of abortion providers during this period."

Seemingly, the drop has coincided with a steep dip in the number of overall pregnancy and birth rates. 

"Contraceptive use improved during this period, as more women and couples were using highly effective long-acting reversible contraceptive methods," Jones said.

The report was based on an analysis from a census of all known abortion providers in the country. It is scheduled to appear in the March issue of Guttmacher Institute's "Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health." 

Anti-abortions activists have further welcomed the reports of decline in the abortion rate. 

"That abortion rates and numbers continue to decline is heartening because it shows that women are rejecting the idea of abortion as the answer to an unexpected pregnancy," said Carol Tobias, president of the National Right to Life group, according to AFP. 

"Overall, this latest report from Guttmacher shows the long-term efforts of the right-to-life movement to educate the country about the humanity of the unborn child and to enact laws that help mothers and their children are having a tremendous impact."