CDC reports US birth rate has dropped to a record low

Federal data released Thursday shows that the United States (U.S.) birth rate hit a record low in 2024, with just 1.6 births per woman.

Key Takeaways:

• The U.S. birth rate in 2024 was 1.6 children per woman — well below the replacement rate of 2.1 births per woman.

• There was a slight 1% increase in the number of births over 2023.

• The data corresponds with falling birth rates around the globe.

The Details:

The data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirms provisional information the organization released in April. The numbers show that the U.S. fertility rate is at an all-time low, with 1.599 births per woman — down from 1.629 in 2023. In contrast, the Associated Press (AP) reported that in the early 1960s, the fertility rate was around 3.5 births per woman. The AP added:

The CDC’s new report, which is based on a more complete review of birth certificates than provisional data released earlier this year, also showed a 1% increase in births — about 33,000 more — last year compared to the prior year.

That brought the yearly national total to just over 3.6 million babies born.

The data also shows that women are having children later than ever before. The fertility rate declined over 2023 data among those between the ages of 15-34, remained unchanged for the 35-39 age range, and rose among those aged 40-44.

Experts attribute the decline to people waiting until later in life to get married and start families, with many choosing to forgo having children at all.

The Big Picture:

The news from the U.S. is unsurprising, given that birth rates are falling to record lows around the world. Live Action News has reported in recent months on plummeting rates in Argentina, South Korea, Taiwan, and Finland, among others.

Yet even as births continue to decline, abortions continue to rise. Data released from the pro-abortion Guttmacher Institute in 2024 showed that an estimated 1,038,100 preborn children in America were killed by abortion in 2023 — a figure that is difficult to accurately calculate, since many abortions are now done via the abortion pill, which can be discreetly sent through the mail without any doctor oversight or proper reporting. This is equivalent to nearly one-third the number of total births for the year — a significant percentage, as populations are falling below the replacement rate.

The Bottom Line:

Leaders and policymakers around the world have started to take notice of the fact that birth rates are well below where they should be, with some implementing measures in an attempt to persuade women to have more children. But with the wide availability of abortion and contraception, coupled with a society that is often hostile to children and families, it is dubious that these measures will have any real impact until there is a prevailing worldview that all children are a gift to be cherished and welcomed.

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