Women in the United States are giving birth at record-low rates, according to federal data released on Thursday, April 25. The report, conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Center for Health Statistics, found that the total fertility rate fell to 1.62 births per woman in 2023, marking the lowest rate recorded since the 1930s.
Dr. Brady Hamilton, a statistician with the National Center for Health Statistics and lead author of the report, said that the decline reflects ongoing trends as women navigate economic uncertainty and societal challenges, choosing to delay or forgo having children.
Hamilton said that factors contributing to this trend include establishing careers and access to contraception. Meanwhile, many young couples are increasingly investing in homeownership and paying off student debt, affecting their decision to have children.
The recent data coincides with broader cultural shifts including the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. Some states with abortion bans have seen increases in fertility rates, which suggests a correlation between reproductive rights and fertility trends.
Declining birth rates can also reportedly have a number of detrimental effects on the United States. First, declining birth rates can create a decline in population, however, record numbers of immigrants coming into the U.S. have offset those losses in recent years.
Low fertility rates may also reduce the number of workers contributing to the economy, which can in turn affect the sustainability of Social Security.
Hamilton maintains that many women want children but often choose to delay motherhood. However, despite advances in fertility treatments, science suggests that trying to conceive later in life carries lower success rates and greater health risks.
