The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealed on Thursday that the fertility rate in the United States has reached its lowest point ever recorded. The study indicates that women in their 20s are having fewer babies compared to previous years.
The fertility rate in the United States experienced a 3% decline between 2022 and 2023, which is a steeper drop compared to previous years. In 2022, the rate remained stable, and in 2021, there was a 1% increase in the fertility rate, as reported by the CDC. Researchers have noted that the overall trend in the country has been a decline in fertility rates for several decades, and the decrease observed in 2023 aligns with this historical pattern (USA TODAY).
The number of women giving birth in their 30s has increased, according to the study. In contrast, there has been a 4% decrease in births among women aged 20 to 24.
According to Brady E. Hamilton, the lead author of the report, one of the major factors for women in their 20s is the potential to delay certain things.
The fertility rate for 2023 is estimated using birth certificate data that covers 99% of all births in the previous year. It is important to note that this data does not include information on the geographic location of births or whether a baby is a woman’s first child.
Why did the birth rate fall?
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According to Hamilton, the reason for the decline in the number of births in 2023 compared to 2022 will only be determined once social scientists analyze data on parents’ economic outlooks and other factors that influenced their decision to have children. He mentioned that this data, which will be collected by organizations such as the National Survey for Family Growth, will be available in the coming years.
According to data from the CDC, there were approximately 3.59 million babies born in 2023, which is slightly lower compared to the 3.67 million born in both 2022 and 2021.
Record low birth rate for women aged 20-24
According to the CDC, the birth rate among women aged 20 to 24, which stands at around 55 births per 1,000 women, is the lowest on record. This age group is responsible for the largest overall decline in the U.S. fertility rate.
Hamilton noted that an increasing number of women are choosing to delay starting a family until their 30s. In their 20s, these women are prioritizing educational and career opportunities.
According to him, the rates for older women are usually more stable and, in general, increasing.
According to Hamilton, the birth rate for women between the ages of 30 and 34 reached its peak in 2023, with 95 births per 1,000 women. This marks a shift from previous years, where women aged 20 to 24 held the highest birth rate.
Drop in births follows an uptick in 2021
Birth rates experienced a decline during the initial year of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, in 2021, there was an unexpected increase of 1%. This surge can be attributed to individuals postponing childbirth in the previous year, as suggested by Hamilton.
According to Hamilton, the impact of the COVID-19 virus and the economic downturn during the initial stages of the pandemic might have led to a tendency to delay having children. However, as people started to feel more at ease, they may have made the decision to start a family.
One-third of women get C-sections
Cesarean section deliveries continued to increase for the fourth consecutive year, with 32.4% of births in the latest data. This marks a slight decrease from the previous year’s figure of 32.1%.
Researchers have expressed concerns about the rising number of C-sections among women, citing potential negative implications for healthcare.
According to Michelle Osterman, a co-author of the report, cesarean delivery is a surgical procedure that is more invasive and comes with higher costs and an increased risk of complications compared to vaginal delivery.
According to Osterman, the rise in C-sections may be attributed to the fact that more women are having babies in their 30s and 40s in 2023. It is known that births in older women are more prone to requiring C-sections.
According to her, the increase in births among older women could potentially be a contributing factor.
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