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The United States fertility rate dropped to a new record low in 2025, with only about 3.6 million babies born nationwide—down 1% from the previous year and nearly 20% lower than two decades ago, according to provisional data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published Thursday. This amounts to roughly 53 births for every 1,000 women of reproductive age, continuing a steady decline that has been ongoing since at least 2007.
Teen birth rates saw an even sharper drop. The rate for women ages 15 to 19 fell by 7% in 2025, reaching 11.7 births per 1,000, which is a 72% decrease since 2007. Experts like Dr. Brady Hamilton, lead author of the CDC’s report, described the decline in teen births as “really quite extraordinary,” noting that improved access to contraception and reduced sexual activity are significant factors behind this trend.
The data also shows more women are choosing to have children later in life, with birth rates ticking up for women over 30 but not enough to offset declines among younger women. Many cite reasons such as waiting for the right partner, financial security, or concerns about the economy, climate change, and health care quality before starting families.
The implications of this decline are broad. Economists warn that fewer births mean a shrinking workforce in the long term, which can slow economic growth and strain programs like Social Security, which rely on a balance between working-age adults and retirees.
Looking ahead, experts will watch whether today’s younger adults eventually “catch up” by having children later in their thirties and forties or if the trend toward fewer births continues. Final CDC data for 2025 is expected to be released in August, which may provide more details on demographic patterns and potential policy responses.