Overview

• The number of live births in the U.S. fell to 3.6 million in 2023, the lowest level since 1979, according to CDC data.
• The total fertility rate dropped to 1.6 births per woman, continuing a long-term decline since 2007, with a 2% annual decrease on average.
• For the first time, births among women aged 40 and older surpassed those among teenagers, reflecting both public health successes and advances in reproductive technology.
• The average age of first-time mothers rose to 27.5 years in 2023, with significant increases in fertility rates among women aged 35 and older since 1990.
• Access to prenatal care has declined, with only 76% of pregnant women receiving first-trimester care, and Medicaid covering 42% of births in 2023.