According to new data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the fertility rate in the United States reached a historic low in 2023. The rate fell by 3% from the previous year, marking the latest decline in a long-term downward trend.
In 2023, the fertility rate dropped to approximately 55 births per 1,000 women ages 15 to 44. This represents a decline of 17% in the number of births since 2007, and a 21% decrease in the general fertility rate over the same period. The total number of births last year was just under 3.6 million, about 68,000 fewer than the previous year.
Factors Contributing to the Decline
Sarah Hayford, director of the Institute for Population Research at The Ohio State University, cites multiple social and economic factors contributing to this trend. These include:
Delayed Life Events: People are marrying later and spending more time in education and career establishment.
Changing Social Norms: There is greater acceptance of smaller family sizes or choosing not to have children.
Hayford emphasizes that waiting longer to have children often results in having fewer children overall. Additionally, shifting social norms have made it more acceptable to reconsider or delay parenthood.
Shifts in Birth Trends
The data reveals that births are increasingly occurring among older mothers. The highest birth rate is observed in women ages 30 to 34, with approximately 95 births per 1,000 women in this age group in 2023. Conversely, the teen birth rate has decreased to a record low of about 13 births per 1,000 girls aged 15 to 19.
Impact of Abortion Legislation
The overturning of Roe v. Wade by the US Supreme Court in 2022 has led to significant changes in reproductive health care. States with abortion bans have seen a 2.3% higher average fertility rate compared to states where abortion remains unrestricted, potentially adding about 32,000 more births than expected in the first half of 2023.
“The relationship between abortion rights and birth rates is complex,” says Hayford. “Abortion access can influence people’s family planning decisions, and recent changes in abortion policy continue to impact demographic trends.”
Prenatal Care Trends
The CDC report also highlights concerning trends in prenatal care. While most pregnant women—about 75%—received prenatal care starting in their first trimester, there has been an increase in those receiving care later or not at all. Approximately 2.3% of pregnant women did not receive prenatal care in 2023, up 5% from the previous year, and nearly 5% had only third-trimester prenatal care.
These shifts underscore broader issues in reproductive health access and highlight ongoing challenges in ensuring timely and comprehensive prenatal care for all pregnant women.
