US fertility rate falls to record low again in 2025 in continued downward trend, CDC reports

WASHINGTON — The U.S. fertility rate fell again in 2025, reaching another record low and continuing a decline that spans decades, according to new data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The general fertility rate dropped to 53.1 births per 1,000 women ages 15 to 44, down from 53.8 in 2024 — a 1% decrease, CDC’s preliminary data report showed. The total number of births also declined year over year, falling about 1% to 3,606,400 last year.

The rate has been trending downward since 2007 and is down roughly 23% over that period, according to federal data.

A key driver of the decline is a sharp drop in births among younger women. The fertility rate for teenagers fell 7% in 2025 and has dropped more than 70% since 2007. Birth rates among women in their early 20s have also declined significantly.

At the same time, births among older women are rising. The fertility rate for women ages 30 to 34 increased by about 3% last year, reflecting a broader shift toward having children later in life.

Experts say the trend suggests many women are delaying having children, rather than fully avoiding. Still, it remains unclear whether younger generations will eventually have enough children to offset those delays.

The data also highlights a broader demographic shift. Nearly half of U.S. women around age 30 are now childless, up sharply from past decades. Census data shows the share of childless women ages 25 to 29 rose from about 50% in 2014 to 63% in 2024.

A country’s population stability typically requires about 2.1 children per woman. In the U.S., that figure has fallen below 1.6 in recent years.

While the U.S. population is still growing, experts say slower birth rates could have long-term impacts on the workforce and economic growth.