United States birth rate hits record low

New data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveals that the general fertility rate in the United States fell by 1% in 2025, reaching a new record low. This decline continues a two-decade trend of decreasing birth rates across the country.

The report highlights significant shifts in demographic patterns. Birth rates among women in their 20s have seen steep declines, including a 6% drop for women aged 20 to 24 and a 7% decline for those in their late teens. Conversely, the birth rate among women aged 30 to 45 is rising.

Demographers and researchers suggest that financial uncertainty, the high cost of raising children, and shifting societal views on motherhood are contributing factors to these changing reproductive choices, particularly among Gen Z women.