Latin American reports highlight trends in adolescent and child pregnancy

Recent data from several Latin American countries highlights critical trends in adolescent and child pregnancy. In Mexico, the National System for the Integral Protection of Children and Adolescents (Sipinna) reported that 7,887 girls aged 10 to 14 gave birth in 2025, averaging 22 births per day. Sipinna characterized these cases as “forced fertility” and a national emergency, noting that such pregnancies are often the result of sexual violence rather than consensual relationships. In the state of Puebla, 5,867 births were recorded from mothers under 18, with 397 occurring in girls aged 10 to 14. Similarly, the State of Mexico recorded 557 births in the 10-to-14 age group.

In Costa Rica, the canton of Coto Brus reported the highest national fertility rate among girls and adolescents, reaching 14.3 births per thousand. Data from the National Institute of Statistics and Censuses (INEC) also indicated a rise in births resulting from “improper relationships,” which doubled from 5.5% in 2021 to 11.1% in 2025.

Conversely, La Rioja, Argentina, has seen a significant decline in adolescent births. According to the Directorate of Statistics and Health Information, the live birth rate for mothers aged 10 to 19 dropped from 33.9 per 1,000 women in 2013 to 7.8 in 2024, a trend attributed to sustained public health policies and comprehensive sexual education.