Objectives:This report presents 2024 data on U.S. births by selected characteristics. Trends in fertility patterns and maternal and infant characteristics are described. Methods:Descriptive tabulations based on birth certificates of the 3.63 million births registered in 2024 are shown for various maternal demographic and health characteristics; medical and healthcare utilization, including source of payment for the delivery; and infant health characteristics. Selected data by mother's state of residence and birth rates also are shown. Trends for 2010 to 2024 are presented for selected items and by race and Hispanic origin for 2016-2024. Results:A total of 3,628,934 births occurred in the United States in 2024, an increase of 1% from the record low reported for 2023. The general fertility rate declined 1% from 2023 to 53.8 births per 1,000 females ages 15-44 in 2024. Birth rates declined for females ages 15-34 from 2023 to 2024, rose for women ages 40-44, and were unchanged for females ages 10-14 and women ages 35-39 and 45-49. The total fertility rate declined 1% to 1,599.5 births per 1,000 women in 2024, a record low. Birth rates declined for both unmarried and married women from 2023 to 2024. Prenatal care beginning in the first trimester declined to 75.5% in 2024. The percentage of women who smoked during pregnancy declined to 2.4%. The cesarean delivery rate increased by less than 1% to 32.4%. Private insurance as the source of payment for the delivery increased to 51.8% of births, while Medicaid deliveries declined to 40.2%. The preterm birth rate (10.41%) was unchanged from 2023; low birthweight births declined 1% (8.52%). The twin birth rate declined 2% in 2024 to 30.1 per 1,000 births; the triplet and higher-order multiple birth rate was 71.3 per 100,000 births compared with 73.8 for 2023.

Introduction:This report describes changes in fertility rates for women ages 30-34, 35-39, and 40 and older by state for the decade 2015 through 2024. Methods:Data are from the National Vital Statistics System natality data file for 2015 and 2024, which is based on birth certificates registered in all 50 states and the District of Columbia (D.C.). Fertility rates (the number of births per 1,000 women in the specified age group) are calculated for women in the 5-year age groups 30-34 and 35-39 and 10-year age group 40-49. Changes in the rates are based on pairwise comparisons and tested using a two-tailed z test statistic. Key Findings:The U.S. fertility rate for women ages 30-34 decreased 8% from 2015 to 2024, while the rate for ages 35-39 increased 5% and that for women 40 and older increased 24%. By state from 2015 to 2024, rates for women ages 30-34 declined in 37 states, rates for women 35-39 increased in 35 states and declined in 5 states and D.C., and those for women 40 and older rose in 46 states.

Objectives:This report presents 2023 data on U.S. births by selected characteristics. Trends in fertility patterns and maternal and infant characteristics are described. Methods:Descriptive tabulations based on birth certificates of the 3.60 million births registered in 2023 are shown for various maternal demographic and health characteristics; medical and healthcare utilization, including source of payment for the delivery; and infant health characteristics. Selected data by mother's state of residence and birth rates also are shown. Trends for 2010 to 2023 are presented for selected items, and by race and Hispanic origin for 2016-2023. Results:A total of 3,596,017 births occurred in the United States in 2023, down 2% from 2022. The general fertility rate declined 3% from 2022 to 54.5 births per 1,000 females ages 15-44 in 2023. The birth rate for females ages 15-19 declined 4% from 2022 to 2023; birth rates rose less than 1% for women ages 20-24, fell 1% to 3% for women ages 25-44, and were unchanged for females ages 10-14 and women ages 45-49. The total fertility rate declined 2% to 1,621.0 births per 1,000 women in 2023. Birth rates declined for both unmarried and married women from 2022 to 2023. Prenatal care beginning in the first trimester declined to 76.1% in 2023; the percentage of women who smoked during pregnancy declined to 3.0%. The cesarean delivery rate increased 1% in 2023 to 32.3%; Medicaid was the source of payment for 41.5% of births, an increase from 2022 (41.3%). The preterm birth rate (10.41%) and the low birthweight rate for 2023 (8.58%) were essentially unchanged from 2022. The twin birth rate declined 2% in 2023 to 30.7 per 1,000 births; the triplet and higher-order multiple birth rate decreased 6% to 73.8 per 100,000 births.

Objectives:This report examines the role of age-specific trends in fertility rates in the decline in the number of births and of general fertility rates (GFRs) and total fertility rates (TFRs). Methods:Data are from the National Center for Health Statistics' National Vital Statistics System birth data files from 1990 through 2023. To estimate the role of changes in age-specific fertility rates on total births, GFRs, and TFRs from 1990 through 2023, 1990 rates for each maternal age category were kept constant and applied to all subsequent years to produce adjusted totals and rates. Results:The actual number of U.S. births declined 14% from 1990 to 2023, the GFR declined 23%, and the TFR declined 22%. Due to declines in birth rates among females younger than age 30, holding their 1990 birth rates constant resulted in higher adjusted GFRs, TFRs, and number of births in 2023 than the actual rates and numbers. Due to increases in birth rates to women age 30 and older, holding their 1990 birth rates constant would have led to lower adjusted GFRs, TFRs, and number of births in 2023 than the actual rates and numbers. The magnitude of the decrease in birth rates among females younger than 30 was greater than the magnitude of the increase in rates among women 30 and older, resulting in declining overall fertility rates. These age-specific changes in birth rates resulted in changing maternal age distributions-in 1990, females younger than 30 accounted for 7 in 10 births (69.8%), while in 2023, they accounted for less than 1 in 2 (48.6%). Summary:The decline in fertility rates over the past few decades results from declining rates among females younger than 30 coupled with smaller increases in rates among older women.

Objectives:This report presents recent trends in the mean (average) age of mothers when they gave birth in the United States from 2016 to 2023. It updates previous analyses by examining trends in mean maternal age by birth order and presents trends and differences in mean age at first birth across race and Hispanic origin and urbanicity. Methods:Data are from the National Vital Statistics System, comprising all birth records in the United States for 2016-2023. Mean maternal age was calculated for first, second, and third and higher-order births (the number of live births born to a woman during her lifetime). Trends over time and differences by mother's race and Hispanic origin and urbanicity are described. Results:The mean age of mothers at first birth increased 0.9 year, from 26.6 in 2016 to 27.5 in 2023. Similar increases were observed for higher-order births, with mean age at birth rising by 1.0 year for second births and 0.9 year for third and higher-order births. All racial and ethnic groups saw an increase in mean age at first birth of 0.4-1.4 years. Mean maternal age at first birth rose across all levels of urbanicity, from large metropolitan counties to rural counties, by 0.7-0.9 year. In 2023, mothers in large metropolitan counties had the highest mean age at first birth (28.5), while those in noncore counties had the lowest (24.8).

Objectives:This report presents and compares trends in U.S. births and deaths from 2010 through 2023. Births and deaths are shown by race and Hispanic origin and urbanicity of county of residence. Methods:Descriptive tabulations of trends in the numbers, rates, and ratios of births and deaths for the United States from 2010 through 2023 are presented and interpreted. Results:From 2010 through 2023, the number of births for the United States declined by a total of 10%. Births were essentially stable from 2010 through 2016, declined from 2016 through 2019, and then fluctuated from 2019 through 2023. In contrast, the number of deaths generally increased from 2010 through 2023, by a total of 25%. Deaths increased from 2010 through 2019 and fluctuated from 2019 through 2023. The crude birth rate decreased 18% from 2010 through 2023, declining 0.8% per year from 2010 through 2015 and 2.0% per year from 2015 through 2019; the rate then fluctuated from 2019 through 2023. In contrast, the crude death rate increased 15% from 2010 through 2023, rising 1.0% on average from 2010 through 2019, and then fluctuating from 2019 through 2023. The birth-to-death ratio declined from 2010 through 2023, by a total of 28%, with the ratio decreasing 1.6% per year from 2010 through 2014 and 2.8% per year from 2014 through 2019; the ratio then fluctuated from 2019 through 2023. The ratio generally declined for the three largest race and Hispanic-origin groups from 2010 through 2023, fluctuating but increasing from 2019 through 2023. The differences in the ratios among the groups narrowed from 2010 through 2023. The birth-to-death ratio declined for both urban and rural counties from 2010 through 2023, with differences between ratios narrowing.

Objectives:This report presents highlights from 2024 final birth data on key demographic and medical and healthcare indicators. The number of births, the general fertility rate (GFR) (the number of births per 1,000 females ages 15-44), agespecific birth rates, primary cesarean delivery rates by age of mother, and the percentage of births covered by Medicaid by age of mother are presented. For all indicators, results for 2024 are compared with those for 2023. Methods:This report uses data from the natality data file from the National Vital Statistics System. The vital statistics natality file is based on information from birth certificates and includes information for all births occurring in the United States. This report accompanies the release of the 2024 natality public-use file (3). More detailed analyses of the topics presented in this report and other topics, such as births by age of mother, tobacco use during pregnancy, pregnancy risk factors, prenatal care timing and use, receipt of WIC food, maternal body mass index, and breastfeeding are possible using the annual natality files (3). Key findings:The number of births in the United States increased 1% from 2023 to 2024, to 3,628,934 births. The general fertility rate declined 1% from 2023 to 2024 to 53.8 births per 1,000 females ages 15-44.

This report provides health data from the National Center for Health Statistics.

Objectives- This report presents 2022 data on U.S. births by selected characteristics. Trends in fertility patterns and maternal and infant characteristics are described. Methods-Descriptive tabulations based on birth certificates of the 3.67 million births registered in 2022 are shown by maternal age, live-birth order, race and Hispanic origin, marital status, tobacco use, prenatal care, source of payment for the delivery, method of delivery, gestational age, birthweight, and plurality. Selected data by mother's state of residence and birth rates also are shown. Trends for 2010 to 2022 are presented for selected items, and by race and Hispanic origin for 2016-2022. Results-A total of 3,667,758 births occurred in the United States in 2022, essentially unchanged from 2021. The general fertility rate declined 1% from 2021 to 56.0 births per 1,000 females ages 15-44 in 2022. The birth rate for females ages 15-19 declined 2% from 2021 to 2022; birth rates fell 7% for women ages 20-24, rose 1% to 5% for women ages 25-29 and 35-44, and rose 12% for women ages 45-49 (the first increase since 2016). The total fertility rate declined less than 1% to 1,656.5 births per 1,000 women in 2022. Birth rates declined for unmarried women but increased for married women from 2021 to 2022. Prenatal care beginning in the first trimester declined to 77.0% in 2022; the percentage of women who smoked during pregnancy declined to 3.7%. The cesarean delivery rate was unchanged in 2022 (32.1%); Medicaid was the source of payment for 41.3% of births. The preterm birth rate declined 1% to 10.38%; the low birthweight rate rose 1% to 8.60%. The twin birth rate was unchanged in 2022 (31.2 per 1,000 births); the 2% decrease in the triplet and higher-order multiple birth rate.

Objectives:This study examines trends in the numbers, percentages, and rates of first and second and higher-order births to teenagers younger than age 20 and for those ages 15-17 and 18-19 by race and Hispanic origin. Methods:Data for this analysis are from the National Vital Statistics System birth data files from 2000 and 2022. Analyses are limited to births to females younger than age 20. Changes in the numbers, percentages, and rates of total, first, and second and higher-order teen births from 2000 to 2022 were calculated for all teenagers and for non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaska Native, non-Hispanic Black, non-Hispanic White, and Hispanic teenagers. Results:The number of first teen births declined 67% and the number of second and higher-order teen births declined 79%, while the population of female teenagers increased 7% from 2000 to 2022. The declines were greater for younger teenagers compared with older teenagers. First and second and higher-order teen birth rates declined 69% and 80%, respectively. Similar declines were found for each race and Hispanic-origin group. In 2000 and 2022, first and second and higher-order birth rates were lowest among White teenagers. First birth rates were highest among Hispanic teenagers in 2000 and for Hispanic and non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaska Native teenagers in 2022. In 2000, second and higher-order birth rates were highest for non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic teenagers; second and higher-order birth rates were more similar by race and Hispanic-origin group in 2022.

This report provides health data from the National Center for Health Statistics.

Objectives:This report presents 2023 data on U.S. births compared with 2022 and 2021 for several key demographic and maternal and infant characteristics. Methods:Descriptive tabulations of data reported on the birth certificates of the 3.60 million births that occurred in 2023 are presented. Data are presented for the number of births, the general fertility rate, teenage birth rates, the distribution of births by trimester prenatal care began and the distribution of births by selected gestational age categories. Data for 2023 are compared with data for 2022 and 2021. Results:A total of 3,596,017 births were registered in the United States in 2023, down 2% from 2022. The general fertility rate declined 3% in 2023 to 54.5 births per 1,000 females ages 15-44. Birth rates declined for females ages 15-19 (4%), 15-17 (2%), and 18-19 (5%), from 2022 to 2023. The percentage of mothers receiving prenatal care in the first trimester of pregnancy declined 1% to 76.1% in 2023 while the percentage of mothers with no prenatal care increased 5%. The preterm birth rate was essentially unchanged at 10.41% in 2023 but the rate of early term births rose 2%.

This report describes an updated methodology to estimate overall and unintended pregnancy rates for the United States from 2010–2019, and examines differences by demographic factors. Machine learning models were used to impute missing information on induced abortions, and data integration methods were used to combine estimates of abortions, live births, and pregnancy losses to produce estimates of the total numbers of pregnancies occurring from 2010–2019 and corresponding pregnancy rates, along with outcomes related to unintended pregnancy.

This report presents provisional 2022 data on U.S. births. Births are shown by age and race and Hispanic origin of mother. Data on cesarean delivery and preterm births are also presented.

Objectives-This report presents 2021 data on U.S. births according to a variety of characteristics. Trends in fertility patterns and maternal and infant characteristics are described and interpreted.

This report presents selected highlights from 2022 final birth data on key demographic, healthcare utilization, and infant health indicators. The number of births, general fertility rates (GFRs) (births per 1,000 females aged 15-44), age-specific birth rates (births per 1,000 women in specified age group), and cesarean delivery and preterm (less than 37 weeks of gestation) birth rates are presented. Results for 2020, 2021, and 2022 are shown for all births to describe changes in birth patterns during the COVID-19 pandemic years (1,2). Cesarean and preterm birth rates are shown for select race and Hispanic-origin groups.

This report presents provisional 2021 data on U.S. births, by age and race and Hispanic origin of mother. Data on cesarean delivery and preterm births are also presented.

DC 13.0-19.98.0-12.95.4-7.920.0-26.5 * Births per 1,000 females aged 15-19 years.In 2021, the U.S. birth rate for females aged 15-19 years was 13.9 births per 1,000 persons, with rates generally lower in the Northeast and higher across the southern states.Birth rates among females aged 15-19 years ranged from 5.4 in New Hampshire, 5.7 in Massachusetts, and 6.4 in Vermont to 26.5 in Arkansas and 25.6 in Mississippi.

This report presents provisional 2021 and final 2020 and 2019 data on changes in the number of U.S. births by race and Hispanic origin of mother and by month of birth and state for January through June of 2020 and 2021.