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Adolescent pregnancy trends in Latin America

Overview

Adolescent pregnancy in Latin America and the Caribbean is identified as a key indicator of poverty and social exclusion. While regional fertility rates for girls aged 15 to 19 decreased from approximately 73 births per thousand in 2010 to 50 in 2025, progress is described as unequal. Two out of three pregnancies in the region are unintended, often linked to a lack of sexual education, contraceptives, and reproductive health services.

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. In Puebla, 5,867 births were recorded from mothers under 18, including 397 in girls aged 10 to 14. The State of Mexico also recorded 557 births in the 10-to-14 age group.

In Costa Rica, the canton of Coto Brus reported the highest national fertility rate for adolescents at 14.3 births per thousand. Data from the National Institute of Statistics and Censuses (INEC) indicated that births resulting from “improper relationships” doubled from 5.5 percent in 2021 to 11.1 percent in 2025.

Efforts to mitigate these trends continue through targeted education. In La Rioja, Argentina, 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. In Maturín, Venezuela, the Municipal Council for the Rights of Children and Adolescents (Cmdnna) has implemented preventive orientation sessions at the Liceo Miguel José Sanz to provide students with information on sexual education and life planning.

Entities

SIPINNA · Colón Province · Puebla · Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos · Portobelo

Timeline

  1. [HEALTH] 10 sources
    Adolescent pregnancy prevention initiatives reported in Argentina and Venezuela

    Regional efforts in Argentina and Venezuela focus on preventing unintended adolescent pregnancy through improved sexual education and public health policies.

  2. [INTERNATIONAL] 8 sources
    Latin American reports highlight trends in adolescent and child pregnancy

    Data from Mexico, Costa Rica, and Argentina reveal varying trends in adolescent pregnancy, with Mexico reporting high rates of child births linked to sexual violence and Costa Rica seeing regional spikes.

  3. [HEALTH] 3 sources
    Adolescent pregnancy highlights inequality in Latin America

    Adolescent pregnancy in Latin America and the Caribbean highlights deep inequalities, as unintended pregnancies disproportionately affect vulnerable, low-income, and indigenous communities.

Sources

adnoticias.mx · barilochedigital.com · contigopuebla.mx · cosquin.gob.ar · diariorepublica.com.ar · elperiodicodemonagas.com.ve · eluniverso.com · fmalba.com.ar · hoy.com.do · hsbnoticias.com · infocatolica.com · itapuanoticias.tv · minsa.gob.pa · ncscampeche.com · pzactual.com · radiolarioja.com.ar · talcualdigital.com · tvn-2.com · vanguardia.com.mx · xeu.mx

This summary has been updated 2 times: see revision history