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4d ago

U.S. Birth Rates Remain Near Record Lows Despite Slight 2024 Increase

CDC data shows a 1% rise in births last year, as the Trump administration explores cash incentives and expanded IVF access to combat long-term fertility decline.

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Overview

  • The U.S. recorded 3.62 million births in 2024, a 1% increase from 2023, but still far below replacement levels needed to sustain population size.
  • The total fertility rate remained at 1.6 births per woman, well under the 2.1 threshold required for population maintenance without immigration.
  • Birth rates among women aged 35–44 rose by 3–4% in 2024, while births among younger women, particularly those under 25, continued to decline.
  • Economic challenges such as student debt, high housing costs, and expensive childcare are cited by experts as key factors behind the sustained low fertility rates.
  • President Trump signed an executive order in February to expand IVF access and is considering a $5,000 'baby bonus' and other pronatalist policies to encourage childbirth.