The fertility rate in the United States has dropped to a new low of 1.6 children per woman, according to recent data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This trend continues a decline in birth rates that has been ongoing for nearly two decades. Despite the declining fertility rate, the US population is still growing, with more births than deaths.
Experts attribute the decline in fertility rates to various factors, including economic stability and the affordability of necessities like housing. These factors can place significant strains on households and affect mental health. “Worry is not a good moment to have kids,” said Karen Guzzo, director of the Carolina Population Center at the University of North Carolina. Guzzo also noted that the Trump administration’s policies, such as slashing funding for social programs, are “really symbolic and not likely to budge things for real Americans.”
The US fertility rate has fluctuated over the years, reaching 3.5% in the early 1960s before dropping to 1.7% by 1976 and rebounding to 2.1% in 2007. Lower fertility rates are common in wealthier countries, and the new figures put the US roughly on par with its Western European counterparts.
In response to declining fertility rates, some lawmakers have called on the government to take a more active role in encouraging people to have children and promoting policies that facilitate that goal. Officials within the Trump administration have floated the idea of changing tax policy to favor people who have children. Trump even dubbed himself the “fertility president” during Women’s History Month and issued an executive order aimed at reducing barriers to processes like in vitro fertilization.
Key Findings
- General Fertility Rate: The general fertility rate in the United States decreased by 3% from 2022, reaching a historic low of 54.5 births per 1,000 females aged 15 to 44 years.
- Birth Rate Decline: The birth rate has declined by 17% since peaking in 2007, with experts attributing this decline to economic concerns, cultural shifts, and evolving views on family life.
- Teenage Birth Rates: Teenage birth rates have also decreased, with a 4% decline for females aged 15 to 19 years, including a 2% drop for those aged 15 to 17 years and a 5% decrease for those aged 18 to 19 years.
Expert Insights
- Leslie Root, a University of Colorado Boulder researcher focused on fertility and population policy, said, “We’re seeing this as part of an ongoing process of fertility delay. We know that the US population is still growing, and we still have a natural increase — more births than deaths.”
- Sarah Hayford, director of the Institute for Population Research at Ohio State University, noted that “not having children, or having fewer children, is becoming more socially acceptable.” As a result, people are weighing more carefully the decision to have children.