Global Fertility Rates Decline in 2023

The number of births in the United States decreased by 2% in 2023, with 3,596,017 babies born compared to 3,667,758 in 2022, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics. This decline follows two years of increased births during the COVID-19 pandemic and aligns with a longer-term trend of decreasing birth rates observed between 2014 and 2019. Since 2007, the number of births has dropped by 17%, and the general fertility rate for women aged 15 to 44 has decreased by 21%, standing at 54.5 births per 1,000 women in 2023.

Additionally, the data indicates a 4% decline in births to females aged 15 to 19 from 2022 to 2023. The report also highlights a concerning trend in prenatal care, with fewer pregnant women receiving adequate care and a 5% increase in those receiving no prenatal care. Furthermore, preterm birth rates have risen by 9%, and early-term births by 21%, while full-term and late- and post-term births have decreased.