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US Fertility Rate Hits Record Low
9 Apr
Summary
- US fertility rate reached a record low last year.
- Births declined by 1% to about 3.6 million.
- Younger women cite career and lifestyle changes.
The U.S. general fertility rate reached an all-time low last year, extending a trend seen for nearly two decades. Provisional data reveals a 1% decrease in births from the previous year, resulting in approximately 3.6 million babies born. This decline mirrors global patterns as societal shifts influence women's decisions regarding parenthood.
Experts, like economics professor Phillip Levine, point to factors such as demanding career opportunities, expanded leisure options, and the intensity of modern parenting as reasons why having children is becoming less desirable for younger women. The general fertility rate, measured as births per 1,000 women aged 15 to 44, also slipped by 1% to 53.1.
While fertility rates for women in their 30s and 40s have seen slight increases over the past decade, these gains are insufficient to counteract the sustained declines observed in women under 30. Notably, fertility rates among teenagers also dropped significantly, with sharp decreases for both younger and older teen groups, reaching record lows.
