Recent provisional statistics released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reveal a decline in U.S. births in 2023, marking a continuation of a prolonged national decrease. The data indicates that approximately 3.6 million babies were born last year, representing a decrease of about 76,000 births compared to the previous year and the lowest one-year total since 1979.
Prior to the impact of COVID-19, U.S. birth rates had been on a downward trajectory for over a decade. Following a 4% drop from 2019 to 2020, there was a slight increase in births for two consecutive years, partly attributed to delayed pregnancies during the early stages of the pandemic. However, experts now suggest that this upward trend has ceased, and the nation has reverted to pre-pandemic birth rate patterns.
While historically birth rates have been declining among teenagers and younger women but rising among women in their 30s and 40s due to educational and career pursuits, the latest data shows a surprising shift. In 2023, birth rates decreased for women under 40 and remained stable for women in their 40s, indicating a departure from previous trends.
The decline in birth rates was observed across nearly all racial and ethnic groups, with variations in the magnitude of decrease among different demographics. The report also highlights a potential impact of the 2022 U.S. Supreme Court decision on abortion restrictions, although a direct correlation with national birth rates was not established in the analysis.
Furthermore, the data suggests a concerning trend in the stagnation of birth rates among high school students, raising questions about the effectiveness of existing sex education and contraception access programs.
Additional key findings from the report include a rise in the cesarean section birth rate, concerns over the frequency of medically unnecessary C-sections, and a notable decline in the overall fertility rate in the U.S., dropping to a record low of about 1.6 children per woman in 2023.
Survey results indicate that many American couples desire multiple children but face obstacles such as housing affordability, job security, and childcare costs, hindering their ability to realize their family planning goals.
