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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No.          )

Filed by the Registrant ý
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant o
Check the appropriate box:
o		Preliminary Proxy Statement
o		Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
ý		Definitive Proxy Statement
o		Definitive Additional Materials
o		Soliciting Material under §240.14a-12

Abbott Laboratories
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
ý		No fee required.
o		Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.
		(1)		Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
		(2)		Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
		(3)		Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
		(4)		Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
		(5)		Total fee paid:
o		Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
o		Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
		(1)		Amount Previously Paid:
		(2)		Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
		(3)		Filing Party:
		(4)		Date Filed:

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Abbott Laboratories
100 Abbott Park Road
Abbott Park, Illinois 60064-6400 U.S.A.

On the Cover: Ensure Advance

Marisela Hernández, Mexico City, Mexico

    Marisela has always been an active person. But when she was in her mid-40s, she began to feel noticeably less energetic and strong. After consulting her doctor, she began to take a more active approach to maintaining her health, drinking Ensure Advance and working out more regularly at a gym near her home. Today, at 60, she feels much stronger and has more energy for her busy career as a financial consultant.

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Information About the Annual Meeting

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Who Can Vote

Shareholders of record at the close of business on February 27, 2014 will be entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting. As of January 31, 2014, Abbott had 1,543,070,300 outstanding common shares, which are Abbott's only outstanding voting securities. All shareholders have cumulative voting rights in the election of directors and one vote per share on all other matters.

Notice and Access

In accordance with the Securities and Exchange Commission's "Notice and Access" rules, Abbott mailed a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (the "Notice") to certain shareholders in mid-March of 2014. The Notice describes the matters to be considered at the Annual Meeting and how the shareholders can access the proxy materials online. It also provides instructions on how those shareholders can vote their shares. If you received the Notice, you will not receive a print version of the proxy materials, unless you request one. If you would like to receive a print version of the proxy materials, free of charge, please follow the instructions on the Notice.

Cumulative Voting

Cumulative voting allows a shareholder to multiply the number of shares owned by the number of directors to be elected and to cast the total for one nominee or distribute the votes among the nominees, as the shareholder desires. Nominees who receive the greatest number of votes will be elected. If you wish to cumulate your votes, you must sign and mail in your proxy card or attend the Annual Meeting.

Voting by Proxy

All of Abbott's shareholders may vote by mail or at the Annual Meeting. Abbott's By-Laws provide that a shareholder may authorize no more than two persons as proxies to attend and vote at the meeting. Most of Abbott's shareholders may also vote their shares by telephone or the Internet. If you vote by telephone or the Internet, you do not need to return your proxy card. The instructions for voting can be found with your proxy card or on the Notice.

Revoking a Proxy

You may revoke your proxy by voting in person at the Annual Meeting or, at any time prior to the meeting:

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by delivering a written notice to the secretary of Abbott,

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by delivering an authorized proxy with a later date, or

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by voting by telephone or the Internet after you have given your proxy.

Discretionary Voting Authority

Unless authority is withheld in accordance with the instructions on the proxy, the persons named in the proxy will vote the shares covered by proxies they receive to elect the 11 nominees named in Item 1 on the proxy card. Should a nominee become unavailable to serve, the shares will be voted for a substitute designated by the Board of Directors, or for fewer than 11 nominees if, in the judgment of the proxy holders, such action is necessary or desirable. The persons named in the proxy may also decide to vote shares cumulatively so that one or more of the nominees may receive fewer votes than the other nominees (or no votes at all), although they have no present intention of doing so.

Where a shareholder has specified a choice for or against the ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as auditors, the advisory vote on the approval of executive compensation, or the approval of the shareholder proposals, or where the shareholder has abstained on these matters, the shares represented by the proxy will be voted (or not voted) as specified. Where no choice has been specified,

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the proxy will be voted FOR the ratification of Ernst & Young LLP as auditors, FOR the approval of executive compensation, and AGAINST the shareholder proposals.

With the exception of matters omitted from this proxy statement pursuant to the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Board of Directors is not aware of any other issue which may properly be brought before the meeting. If other matters are properly brought before the meeting, the accompanying proxy will be voted in accordance with the judgment of the proxy holders.

Quorum and Vote Required to Approve Each Item on the Proxy

A majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote on a matter, represented in person or by proxy, constitutes a quorum for consideration of that matter at the meeting. The affirmative vote of a majority of the shares represented at the meeting and entitled to vote on a matter shall be the act of the shareholders with respect to that matter.

Effect of Broker Non-Votes and Abstentions

A proxy submitted by an institution such as a broker or bank that holds shares for the account of a beneficial owner may indicate that all or a portion of the shares represented by that proxy are not being voted with respect to a particular matter. This could occur, for example, when the broker or bank is not permitted to vote those shares in the absence of instructions from the beneficial owner of the stock. These "non-voted shares" will be considered shares not present and, therefore, not entitled to vote on those matters, although these shares may be considered present and entitled to vote for other purposes. Brokers and banks have discretionary authority to vote shares in absence of instructions on matters the New York Stock Exchange considers "routine", such as the ratification of the appointment of the auditors. They do not have discretionary authority to vote shares in absence of instructions on "non-routine" matters. The election of directors, the advisory vote on the approval of executive compensation, and the shareholder proposals are considered "non-routine" matters. Non-voted shares will not affect the determination of the outcome of the vote on any matter to be decided at the meeting. Shares represented by proxies which are present and entitled to vote on a matter but which have elected to abstain from voting on that matter will have the effect of votes against that matter.

Inspectors of Election

The inspectors of election and the tabulators of all proxies, ballots, and voting tabulations that identify shareholders are independent and are not Abbott employees.

Cost of Soliciting Proxies

Abbott will bear the cost of making solicitations from its shareholders and will reimburse banks and brokerage firms for out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with this solicitation. Proxies may be solicited by mail, telephone, Internet, or in person by directors, officers, or employees of Abbott and its subsidiaries.

Abbott has retained Georgeson Inc. to aid in the solicitation of proxies, at an estimated cost of $19,500 plus reimbursement for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses.

Abbott Laboratories Stock Retirement Plan

Participants in the Abbott Laboratories Stock Retirement Plan will receive a voting instruction card for their shares held in the Abbott Laboratories Stock Retirement Trust. The Stock Retirement Trust is administered by both a trustee and an Investment Committee. The trustee of the Trust is Mercer Trust Company. The members of the Investment Committee are Stephen R. Fussell, Brian P. Wentworth, and Valentine Yien, employees of Abbott. The voting power with respect to the shares is held by and shared between the Investment Committee and the participants. The Investment Committee must solicit voting instructions from the participants and follow the voting instructions it receives. The Investment Committee may use its own discretion with respect to those shares for which no voting instructions are received.

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Confidential Voting

It is Abbott's policy that all proxies, ballots, and voting tabulations that reveal how a particular shareholder has voted be kept confidential and not be disclosed, except:

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where disclosure may be required by law or regulation,

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where disclosure may be necessary in order for Abbott to assert or defend claims,

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where a shareholder provides comments with a proxy,

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where a shareholder expressly requests disclosure,

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to allow the inspectors of election to certify the results of a vote, or

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in other limited circumstances, such as a contested election or proxy solicitation not approved and recommended by the Board of Directors.

Householding of Proxy Materials

Shareholders sharing an address may receive only one copy of the proxy materials or the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials, unless their broker, bank or other intermediary has received contrary instructions from any shareholder at that address. This is known as "householding." Shareholders wishing to discontinue householding and receive separate copies of the proxy materials or the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials, should notify their broker, bank or other intermediary.

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Nominees for Election as Directors

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The Board of Directors and its Committees

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The Board of Directors held seven meetings in 2013. The average attendance of all directors at Board and committee meetings in 2013 was ninety-nine percent and each director attended at least seventy-five percent of the total number of Board meetings and meetings of the committees on which he or she served. Abbott encourages its Board members to attend the annual shareholders meeting. Last year, all of Abbott's directors attended the annual shareholders meeting.

The Board has determined that each of the following directors is independent in accordance with the New York Stock Exchange listing standards: R. J. Alpern, R. S. Austin, S. E. Blount, W. J. Farrell, E. M. Liddy, N. McKinstry, P. N. Novakovic, W. A. Osborn, S. C. Scott III, and G. F. Tilton. To determine independence, the Board applied the categorical standards attached as Exhibit A to this proxy statement. The Board also considered whether a director has any other material relationships with Abbott or its subsidiaries and concluded that none of these directors had a relationship that impaired the director's independence. This included consideration of the fact that some of the directors are officers or serve on boards of companies or entities to which Abbott sold products or made contributions or from which Abbott purchased products and services during the year. In making its determination, the Board relied on both information provided by the directors and information developed internally by Abbott.

The Board has risk oversight responsibility for Abbott and administers this responsibility both directly and with assistance from its committees.

The Board has determined that the current leadership structure, in which the offices of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer are held by one individual and an independent director acts as lead director, ensures the appropriate level of oversight, independence, and responsibility is applied to all Board decisions, including risk oversight, and is in the best interests of Abbott and its shareholders.

Chairman/Chief Executive Officer

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Coherent leadership and direction for the Board and executive management

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Clear accountability and a single focus for the chain of command to execute our strategic initiatives and business plans

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CEO's extensive industry expertise, leadership experience and familiarity with our complex business

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By leading management and chairing the Board, we benefit from our CEO's strategic and operational insights, enabling a focused vision encompassing the full range, from long-term strategic direction and day-to-day execution

Lead Independent Director

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Currently, the Chairman of the Nominations and Governance Committee acts as the lead director

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Chosen by and from the independent members of the Board of Directors, and serves as the liaison between the Chairman of the Board and the independent directors

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Facilitates communication with the Board and presides over regularly conducted executive sessions of the independent directors or sessions where the Chairman of the Board is not present

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Reviews and approves matters, such as agenda items, schedule sufficiency, and, where appropriate, information provided to other Board members

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Has the authority to call meetings of the independent directors and, if requested by major stockholders, ensures that he or she is available for consultation and direct communication

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The lead director, and each of the other directors, communicates regularly with the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer regarding appropriate agenda topics and other Board related matters

The process used by the Nominations and Governance Committee to identify a nominee to serve as a member of the Board of Directors depends on the qualities being sought. Board members should have backgrounds that when combined provide a portfolio of experience and knowledge that will serve Abbott's governance and strategic needs. Board candidates will be considered on the basis of a range of criteria, including broad-based business knowledge and relationships, prominence and excellent reputations in their primary fields of endeavor, as well as a global business perspective and commitment to good corporate citizenship. Directors should have demonstrated experience and ability that is relevant to the Board of Directors' oversight role with respect to Abbott's business and affairs. Each director's biography includes the particular experience and qualifications that led the Board to conclude that the director should serve on the Board. The directors' biographies are on pages 17 to 22.

In the process of identifying nominees to serve as a member of the Board of Directors, the Nominations and Governance Committee considers the Board's diversity of ethnicity, gender, and geography and assesses the effectiveness of the process in achieving that diversity. Currently, 50% of the independent directors are composed of women or individuals who are minorities.

The Board of Directors has five committees established in Abbott's By-Laws: the Executive Committee, Audit Committee, Compensation Committee, Nominations and Governance Committee, and Public Policy Committee. Each of the members of the Audit Committee, Compensation Committee, Nominations and Governance Committee, and Public Policy Committee is independent.

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Executive Committee

The Executive Committee may exercise all the authority of the Board in the management of Abbott, except for matters expressly reserved by law for Board action.

Audit Committee

The Audit Committee assists the Board of Directors in fulfilling its oversight responsibility with respect to Abbott's accounting and financial reporting practices and the audit process, the quality and integrity of Abbott's financial statements, the independent auditors' qualifications, independence, and performance, the performance of Abbott's internal audit function and internal auditors, and certain areas of legal and regulatory compliance. The Committee is governed by a written charter. A copy of the report of the Audit Committee is on page 65.

Compensation Committee

The Compensation Committee assists the Board of Directors in carrying out the Board's responsibilities relating to the compensation of Abbott's executive officers and directors. The Committee is governed by a written charter. The Compensation Committee annually reviews the compensation paid to the members of the Board and gives its recommendations to the full Board regarding both the amount of director compensation that should be paid and the allocation of that compensation between equity-based awards and cash. In recommending director compensation, the Compensation Committee takes comparable director fees into account and reviews any arrangement that could be viewed as indirect director compensation.

This Committee also reviews, approves, and administers the incentive compensation plans in which any executive officer of Abbott participates and all of Abbott's equity-based plans. It may delegate the responsibility to administer and make grants under these plans to management, except to the extent that such delegation would be inconsistent with applicable law or regulation or with the listing rules of the New York Stock Exchange. The processes and procedures used for the consideration and determination of executive compensation are described in the section of the proxy captioned, "Compensation Discussion and Analysis."

The Compensation Committee has the sole authority, under its charter, to select, retain and/or terminate independent compensation advisors. The Committee engaged Aon Hewitt as its compensation consultant for 2013. For 2014, the Compensation Committee has selected a new Compensation Committee consultant whose company performs no other work for Abbott. The Committee engages compensation consultants to provide counsel and advice on executive and non-employee director compensation matters. The consultant, and its principal, report directly to the Chair of the Committee. The principal meets regularly, and as needed, with the Committee in executive sessions, has direct access to the Chair during and between meetings, and performs no other services for Abbott or its senior executives. The Committee determines what variables it will instruct the consultant to consider, and they include: peer groups against which performance and pay should be examined, financial metrics to be used to assess Abbott's relative performance, competitive long-term incentive practices in the marketplace, and compensation levels relative to market practice. The Committee negotiates and approves any fees paid to the consultant for these services. In 2013, the Committee authorized payment of approximately $440,000 to Aon Hewitt for services rendered to the Committee relating to executive compensation. Separately, Abbott management engaged Aon Hewitt to perform and paid approximately $5.8 million for unrelated services, including actuarial work, pension design and administration, insurance, and general consulting. The Compensation Committee was informed about these services, but its formal approval was not requested. A copy of the Compensation Committee report is on page 42.

Nominations and Governance Committee

The Nominations and Governance Committee assists the Board of Directors in identifying individuals qualified to become Board members and recommends to the Board the nominees for election as directors at the next annual meeting of shareholders, recommends to the Board the persons to be elected as executive officers of Abbott, develops and recommends to the Board the corporate governance guidelines applicable to Abbott, and serves in an advisory capacity to the Board and the Chairman of the Board on matters of organization, management succession plans, major changes in the organizational structure of Abbott, and the conduct of Board activities. The Committee is governed by a written charter. The process

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used by this Committee to identify a nominee to serve as a member of the Board of Directors depends on the qualities being sought. From time to time, Abbott engages an executive search firm to assist the Committee in identifying individuals qualified to be Board members. The process used by the Committee to identify nominees is described on page 24 in the section captioned, "Director Selection."

Public Policy Committee

The Public Policy Committee assists the Board of Directors in fulfilling its oversight responsibility with respect to Abbott's public policy, certain areas of legal and regulatory compliance, and governmental affairs and healthcare compliance issues that affect Abbott. The Committee is governed by a written charter.

Interested parties may communicate with the Board of Directors by writing a letter to the Chairman of the Board, to the Chairman of the Nominations and Governance Committee, who acts as the lead director at the meetings of the independent directors, or to the independent directors c/o Abbott Laboratories, 100 Abbott Park Road, D-364, AP6D, Abbott Park, Illinois 60064-6400 Attention: Corporate Secretary. The General Counsel and Corporate Secretary regularly forwards to the addressee all letters other than mass mailings, advertisements, and other materials not relevant to Abbott's business. In addition, directors regularly receive a log of all correspondence received by the Company that is addressed to a member of the Board and may request any correspondence on that log.

Abbott's corporate governance guidelines, outline of directorship qualifications, director independence standards, code of business conduct and the charters of Abbott's Audit Committee, Compensation Committee, Nominations and Governance Committee, and Public Policy Committee are all available in the corporate governance section of Abbott's investor relations Web site (www.abbottinvestor.com).

Our CEO is not compensated for serving on the Board or Board committees. Abbott's remaining directors, who are all non-employee directors, are compensated for their service under the Abbott Laboratories Non-Employee Directors' Fee Plan and the Abbott Laboratories 2009 Incentive Stock Program.

The following table sets forth a summary of the non-employee directors' 2013 compensation.

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(1)

Under the Abbott Laboratories Non-Employee Directors' Fee Plan, non-employee directors earn $10,500 for each month of service as a director and $1,000 for each month of service as a chairman of a Board committee (other than the Audit Committee). The Chairman of the Audit Committee receives $1,500 for each month of service as a Chairman of that committee and the other members of the Audit Committee receive $500 for each month of service as a Committee member. Fees earned under the Abbott Laboratories Non-Employee Directors' Fee Plan are paid in cash to the director, paid in the form of vested non-qualified stock options (based on an independent appraisal of their fair value), deferred (as a non-funded obligation of Abbott), or paid currently into an individual grantor trust established by the director. The distribution of deferred fees and amounts held in a director's grantor trust generally commences when the director reaches age 65, or upon retirement from the Board of Directors, if later. The director may elect to have deferred fees and fees deposited in trust credited to either a guaranteed interest account or to a stock equivalent account that earns the same return as if the fees were invested in Abbott stock. If necessary, Abbott contributes funds to a director's trust so that as of year-end the stock equivalent account balance (net of taxes) is not less than seventy-five percent of the market value of the related Abbott common stock at year end.

(2)

The amounts reported in this column represent the aggregate grant date fair value of the awards in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board ASC Topic 718. Abbott determines the grant date fair value of stock unit awards by multiplying the number of restricted stock units granted by the average of the high and low market prices of an Abbott common share on the date of grant. In addition to the fees described in footnote 1, each non-employee director elected to the Board of Directors at the annual shareholder meeting receives vested restricted stock units having a value of $113,000 (rounded down) under the Abbott Laboratories 2009 Incentive Stock Program (effective as of the 2014 Annual Meeting, this will increase to $135,000 (rounded down)). In 2013, this was 3,097 units. The non-employee directors receive cash payments equal to the dividends paid on the shares covered by the units at the same rate as other shareholders. Upon termination, retirement from the Board, death, or a change in control of Abbott, a non-employee director will receive one share of common stock for each restricted stock unit outstanding under the Incentive Stock Program. The following Abbott restricted stock units were outstanding as of December 31, 2013: R. J. Alpern, 11,656; R. S. Austin, 19,319; S. E. Blount, 4,916; W. J. Farrell, 17,430; E. M. Liddy, 7,083; N. McKinstry, 4,916; P. N. Novakovic, 7,083; W. A. Osborn, 13,573; S. C. Scott III, 15,303; and G. F. Tilton, 15,303. The following AbbVie restricted stock units were outstanding as of December 31, 2013: R. J. Alpern, 8,559; R. S. Austin, 16,222; S. E. Blount, 1,819; W. J. Farrell, 14,333; E. M. Liddy, 3,986; N. McKinstry, 1,819; P. N. Novakovic, 3,986; W. A. Osborn, 10,476; S. C. Scott III, 12,206; and G. F. Tilton, 12,206. The conversion of outstanding Abbott equity awards when Abbott and AbbVie Inc. separated is described in the introduction to the 2013 Outstanding Equity Awards table on page 49.

(3)

The following options were outstanding as of December 31, 2013: N. McKinstry, 6,280 (Abbott) and 6,280 (AbbVie); and P. N. Novakovic, 18,240 (Abbott) and 7,072 (AbbVie).

(4)

The totals in this column include reportable interest credited under Abbott Laboratories Non-Employee Directors' Fee Plan during the year.

(5)

Charitable contributions made by Abbott's non-employee directors are eligible for a matching contribution (up to $25,000 annually). The amounts reported in this column include charitable matching grant contributions, as follows: R. J. Alpern, $3,750; S. E. Blount, $25,000; N. McKinstry, $24,992; S. C. Scott III, $25,000; and G. F. Tilton, $25,000. The amounts also include earnings (net of reportable interest referenced in footnote 4) of $21,703 for W. J. Farrell.

(1)

The table includes shares held in the officers' accounts in the Abbott Laboratories Stock Retirement Trust as follows: T. C. Freyman, 1,070; M. D. White, 26,298; and all executive officers as a group, 64,520. Each officer has shared voting power and sole investment power with respect to the shares held in his or her account.

(2)

The table includes restricted stock units held by the non-employee directors and payable in stock upon their retirement from the Board as follows: R. J. Alpern, 11,656; R. S. Austin, 19,319; S. E. Blount, 4,916; W. J. Farrell, 17,430; E. M. Liddy, 7,083; N. McKinstry, 4,916; P. N. Novakovic, 7,083; W. A. Osborn, 13,573; S. C. Scott III, 15,303; G. F. Tilton, 15,303; and all directors as a group, 116,582.

(3)

Certain executive officers of Abbott are fiduciaries of several employee benefit trusts maintained by Abbott. As such, they have shared voting and/or investment power with respect to the common shares held by those trusts. The table does not include the shares held by the trusts. As of January 31, 2014, these trusts owned a total of 34,190,230 (2.2%) of the outstanding shares of Abbott.

None of the directors, named officers, or executive officers has pledged shares.

(4)

Excluding the shared voting and/or investment power over the shares held by the trusts described in footnote 3, the directors, director nominees, and executive officers as a group together own beneficially less than one percent of the outstanding shares of Abbott.

COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

COMPENSATION PHILOSOPHY AND COMPONENTS OF PAY

CHANGES BASED ON SHAREHOLDER FEEDBACK AND MARKET PRACTICES

HOW EXECUTIVE PAY DECISIONS ARE MADE