US Fertility Rate Hits All-Time Low

Fertility rate in the US has hit a historic low, and is now at 62 births per 1,000 women between the ages of 15 and 44, according to the 2016 population data release by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The decreasing fertility rate is driven by a decline among teenagers and women in their 20s having children. The birthrate for women in their 30s and 40s is increasing, but not fast enough to make up for the declining figures in younger women.

The decline in births among teen moms has dropped 67 per cent since 1991, and 9 per cent from 2015.

Access to contraceptives and increasing use of birth control have driven the decline among teenagers, says research.

Birth rates for women between 40 and 44 increased 4 per cent of 2015, the highest rate for this demographic since 1966.

Birth rates for 30-34 year olds climbed to 102.6 births per 1,000 women, the highest since 1964.

Birth rates for people who aren't legally married also fell 3 per cent compared to the previous year.

Three out of four women got prenatal care in their first trimester, according to the report. Access to prenatal care is essential for the baby's health as it helps reduce potential risks.

Pre-term births increased for the second year and low birthweight babies also increased. Pre-term birth is the largest killer of children under five.

Low birthrates could mean an aging population and a danger of being unable to support them. However, the birth rate in the US is still higher than the death rate.

Replacement level, i.e. the the number children born per woman for the population to exactly replace itself from one generation to the next is around 2.1 children per woman for most countries.

In India, the fertility rate is 2.2 children per woman.

Also Read: Kerala’s Infant Mortality Rate Same As The US