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The United States’ fertility rate dropped to a new historic low in 2025, continuing a nearly 20-year decline, according to data from the National Center for Health Statistics under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
The general fertility rate declined from 53.8 births per 1,000 women of childbearing age in 2024 to 53.1 in 2025. The total number of births also fell by about 1%, reaching approximately 3.6 million.
Experts say the long-term decline, which began around 2007, reflects a range of economic and social factors rather than a single cause. These include rising living and childcare costs, delayed marriage and parenthood, and shifting priorities among younger generations.
The data also shows significant generational changes. Nearly half of women at age 30 in the U.S. are now childless, compared with about 18% in the 1970s.
Demographers warn that sustained low fertility rates could have long-term consequences, including population aging and increased pressure on social security systems, healthcare, and the labor market.
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