The United States' fertility rate fell to a new record low in 2025, extending a nearly two-decade trend, according to provisional data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released Thursday. The fertility rate, or the number of births per 1,000 childbearing-age women, dropped to 53.1 in 2025, down from 53.8 in 2024. The total number of births also fell by 1% last year to 3,606,400, according to the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS).
The decline in birth rates was most pronounced among younger women. Birth rates among mothers under 30 decreased between 2024 and 2025, while rates increased for women over 30. For mothers aged 20 to 24, the birth rate dropped from 55.8 to 52.2 per 1,000 females, and for those aged 25 to 29, it fell from 89.5 to 85.6. Meanwhile, birth rates among women in their 30s and 40s saw increases.
Teen birth rates also hit a new historical low in 2025, falling by 7% from the previous year. The birth rate for mothers aged 15 to 19 was 11.7 births per 1,000 females, down from 61.8 in 1991. The overall birth rate fell by 1% from the previous year, continuing a long-term decline. The cesarean delivery rate increased to 32.5% in 2025, the highest rate since 2013.
The CDC's report did not include an analysis of births by the mother's race or ethnicity, though this data is available on the CDC's WONDER online database. The provisional report provides a preliminary look at key factors in birth trends, with final data typically published in August.
Experts note that declining birth rates can have significant economic implications, including strain on Social Security and Medicare services, as well as potential benefits such as higher education levels and reduced poverty rates. Some argue that lower birth rates are a result of increased female autonomy, while others view them as a challenge to economic stability.