The recent data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has unveiled a concerning trend – the continuing decline of the U.S. birth rate. In 2023, the fertility rate experienced a 3% drop compared to the previous year, declining from 56.0 births per 1,000 women aged 15 to 44 in 2022 to 54.5 births in 2023.
This downward trend in fertility and birth rates can be traced back to the economic crisis of 2007. With the exception of a slight increase in 2021, there has been a consistent decrease in the number of live births, which fell by 17% since 2007. The fertility rate also decreased by 21% during this period.
According to Sarah Hayford, director of the Institute for Population Research at Ohio State University, societal shifts are playing a significant role in this decline. People are increasingly choosing to wait longer before starting a family, which ultimately results in fewer children being born.
The report also highlighted a decline in birth rates among teenagers in 2023, as well as an alarming increase in the number of women receiving no prenatal care. Additionally, the early-term birth rate rose by 2% from 2022 to 2023, posing health risks to babies born between 37 and 38 weeks.
While the CDC report did not provide reasons for the declining birth and fertility rates, it raises important questions about the future of family planning and societal norms surrounding parenthood.