US Birth Rates Drop 1% in 2025, CDC Data Shows Continuing Decline
CDC reports 3.6 million births in 2025, down 22,534 from previous year, as teenage fertility rates drop 72% since 2007.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA — Birth rates across the United States fell 1% in 2025, marking another year of declining fertility as new federal data reveals the ongoing demographic shift affecting the nation.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that approximately 3.6 million births occurred in 2025, representing a decrease of 22,534 births from the previous year. The general fertility rate for women between ages 15 and 44 also dropped 1%.
The data shows cesarean section procedures increased while preterm birth rates remained flat, according to the CDC’s 2025 provisional statistics released this week.
Teenage Birth Rates Continue Sharp Decline
The fertility rate among teenagers showed the most dramatic decrease, falling 7% for teens aged 15 to 19 in 2025. Since 2007, the teenage fertility rate has plummeted by 72%, representing one of the steepest demographic changes in recent decades.
Birth numbers have consistently declined or remained flat since 2015, according to CDC tracking data. The national fertility rate measures the total number of live births per 1,000 women of reproductive age.
Political Response to Demographic Trends
Republican leaders, including Vice President JD Vance, have identified declining birth rates as a policy priority requiring government intervention. During his campaign, Vance proposed increasing taxes on people without children and expanding the child tax credit to encourage higher birth rates.
Sociologists have offered a different perspective on the demographic trend. Many researchers suggest low birth rates reflect characteristics of advanced societies that provide expanded opportunities for individuals to pursue career and educational goals.
The CDC data comes as policymakers debate potential responses to changing American family structures and their long-term economic implications. The agency continues to monitor birth rate trends as part of its ongoing demographic surveillance efforts.
