U.S. Fertility Rate Hits Record Low in 2025 as Births Shift to Older Women
New federal data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reveals that the U.S. fertility rate reached a record low of 53.1 births per 1,000 women aged 15 to 44 in 2025. This marks the sixth consecutive year where the total number of annual births has remained stagnant at approximately 3.6 million. The decline, which has been trending downward since a pre-recession peak in 2007, is driven by a demographic shift where childbearing is increasingly occurring among women aged 30 and older. Despite this delay in family formation, the overall birth rate continues to fall below the replacement level necessary for population growth. These findings highlight significant long-term demographic challenges facing the United States.
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U.S. Fertility Rate Hits Record Low in 2025 as Births Shift to Older Women
New federal data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reveals that the U.S. fertility rate reached a record low of 53.1 births per 1,000 women aged 15 to 44 in 2025. This marks the sixth consecutive year where the total number of annual births has remained stagnant at approximately 3.6 million. The decline, which has been trending downward since a pre-recession peak in 2007, is driven by a demographic shift where childbearing is increasingly occurring among women aged 30 and older. Despite this delay in family formation, the overall birth rate continues to fall below the replacement level necessary for population growth. These findings highlight significant long-term demographic challenges facing the United States.
WSJ.com : U.S. News