The number of births in the United States continues to decline, with the latest CDC data showing a 2% decrease in 2023 compared to the previous year.
Since peaking in 2007, the nation’s birth rate has dropped by 17%, according to a new report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
This troubling trend is mirrored in the general fertility rate, which measures births per 1,000 women.
The CDC report, led by Joyce Martin from the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), found that the general fertility rate has plummeted by 21% over the same period.
The decline is not limited to the overall population; it is particularly pronounced among teenagers. Births to females aged 15 to 19 have dropped by 4% from 2022 to 2023, continuing a pattern seen in recent years.
In 2023, a total of 3,596,017 births were recorded in the United States, down from 3,667,758 in 2022. This ongoing decrease in birth numbers raises concerns about the nation’s demographic future and potential economic implications.
Adding to the growing concerns, the CDC report highlights a decline in the quality of prenatal care.
Fewer pregnant women received adequate care in 2023 compared to 2022.
The percentage of women receiving prenatal care during their first trimester fell by 1%, and the number of women who received no prenatal care at all increased by 5%.
The report notes that the trend of late or no prenatal care has been on the rise since 2016.
Premature births remain a significant issue, with about 10.4% of births in 2023 occurring before the 37th week of pregnancy, similar to the rate in 2022. However, early-term births (during the 37th and 38th weeks) saw a 2% increase.
The NCHS team’s report highlights that since a recent low in 2014, preterm birth rates have risen by 9%, and early-term births by 21%, while full-term, late-term, and post-term births have all declined.
These findings, published on August 20 in an NCHS Data Brief, paint a sobering picture of the nation’s reproductive health and raise questions about the long-term implications for society.