US Birth Rate Drops to Record Low, CDC Reports

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported that the country's general fertility rate fell by 1% in 2025 to a new record low, extending a two-decade downward trend toward fewer children. The steepest drops were among younger women: the birth rate for those aged 20 to 24 fell 6%, while the rate for women in their late teens declined 7%. A separate study released last month by the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta found that Gen Z women are "dramatically less likely to want children" compared with previous generations, pointing to greater career opportunities, rising financial costs, changing priorities, and concerns about maternal mortality. At the same time, the CDC data show a small but significant increase in birth rates among women aged 30 to 45, as more women delay parenthood while building careers and financial stability. Experts note that many people who say they want families feel unable to afford them, with housing costs, daycare, and health insurance cited as key barriers. The US population under age 18 is falling steadily, dropping by more than one million between 2010 and 2020 according to the Census Bureau. The country's median age reached 39.4 years in 2025, and several states are already seeing outright population decline.