U.S. Birth Rates Reach Record Lows, With Fertility Trends Shifting Dramatically

The total fertility rate dropped to 1.6 births per woman in 2023, while more women over 40 are giving birth than teenagers for the first time.

The number of live births in the U.S. fell to 3.6 million in 2023, the lowest level since 1979, according to CDC data.
The total fertility rate dropped to 1.6 births per woman, continuing a long-term decline since 2007, with a 2% annual decrease on average.
For the first time, births among women aged 40 and older surpassed those among teenagers, reflecting both public health successes and advances in reproductive technology.
The average age of first-time mothers rose to 27.5 years in 2023, with significant increases in fertility rates among women aged 35 and older since 1990.
Access to prenatal care has declined, with only 76% of pregnant women receiving first-trimester care, and Medicaid covering 42% of births in 2023.