The birth rate in the U.S. has reached a new record low, with 3,591,328 babies born in 2023, a 2% decrease from the previous year. This decline signals the end of the pandemic-related increase in births that began during the COVID-19 crisis. The decrease is consistent with annual declines seen before the pandemic, which averaged around 2% per year. Signs of this slowdown were already evident in 2022, when there were slightly fewer babies born compared to 2021.
Despite the provisional estimates in the report, which are based on nearly all registered births, the total fertility rate in the U.S. has fallen to 1,616.5 births per 1,000 women. This rate is below the replacement level of 2,100 births per 1,000 women, which is needed to maintain the population size without additional immigration or influxes of people. The total fertility rate has been below the replacement level since 1971, indicating a long-term trend of declining birth rates in the country.
The number of new births declined in most demographic groups in 2023, with the exception of Hispanic women, who saw a 1% increase. Birth rates by age group were also down or unchanged for most women, including those aged 40 to 44, whose birth rates had been rising for almost 40 years. Teen birth rates, which had been decreasing since 2007, saw a smaller decline in recent years, prompting researchers to investigate the reasons behind this trend.
Cesarean delivery rates increased in 2023, with 32.4% of births being delivered via C-section, up from 32.1% in the previous year. This marks the fourth consecutive increase in C-section rates following a period of decline from 2009 to 2019. Cesarean delivery rates were highest among Black mothers at 37%, with increases also seen in Asian, White, and Hispanic women. Among low-risk births, the rate of cesarean deliveries was 26.6%, the highest since 2013.
The U.S. Census Bureau attributes recent population growth to rebounding immigration and a decline in deaths, rather than natural population growth through births. The agency collects data on birth certificates from state and local authorities throughout the year, with the latest report released earlier than usual this year. The significant decline in the number of births in 2023 highlights the ongoing trend of low birth rates in the U.S., which have been below replacement levels for several decades. Researchers continue to monitor these trends to understand the factors influencing fertility rates and population growth in the country.
