The United States is among several major economic powerhouse countries facing a population decline, driven by low fertility rates.
The United States is among several major economic powerhouse countries facing a population decline, driven by low fertility rates.

The Numbers: A Nation Giving Birth Less Often

The U.S. recorded a crude birth rate of 10.74 births per 1,000 people, according to the CDC (2023). It marks yet another notch in a steady decline that’s been ongoing since 2007. For comparison, the global average birth rate is 16.52 per 1,000 people, according to United Nations data. America is well below that.

Within U.S. borders, the gap between states is striking. Vermont posted the lowest rate at just 7.82 births per 1,000 people, while Utah leads the pack with 13.17 births per 1,000—still below the global average.

Looking deeper, the fertility rate in 2023—the number of births per 1,000 women aged 15-44—was 54.5, sliding from 56.0 in 2022.

Read more: How Many People Are Born Every Day?

Why Is America Having Fewer Babies?

Experts point to a mix of economic and cultural factors. Young adults are staying longer in their parents' homes, grappling with housing shortages and student debt. Others cite concerns about job security, childcare affordability, and gender inequities in the workplace.

According to an OECD report, women are delaying or avoiding childbirth in part because of unbalanced work-life conditions and compensation gaps compared to men. Where nations offer strong support for working mothers—think paid leave, affordable daycare—birth rates tend to fare better.

A Global Snapshot: Where Does the U.S. Stand?

Despite its decline, the U.S. still ranks relatively high among wealthy nations. For instance, Greenland has a rate of 14.1 births per 1,000 people, while Saint Pierre and Miquelon, a French territory, has just 5.2 per 1,000.

Globally, the spectrum is even wider: The Central African Republic tops the world with 45.35 births per 1,000 people, while Vatican City reports just 4.21 per 1,000.

Trump’s Second-Term Bet: Can Policy Reverse the Trend?

In 2025, President Donald Trump introduced headline-grabbing initiatives to slow the fertility freefall. Chief among them: expanded access to in vitro fertilization (IVF) and a controversial policy linking federal infrastructure grants to states' birth and marriage rates.

The move has been lauded in conservative states but criticized elsewhere as political posturing, unlikely to resolve systemic economic pressures keeping birth rates down. Analysts say measures like these may help on the margins but fail to address root causes such as childcare costs or family leave policies.

The Road Ahead

While Trump’s administration attempts to tip the scales with pro-natalist policies, America’s birth rate continues to inch downward. Without sweeping reforms to support young families, experts warn the U.S. could follow countries like Japan and South Korea, where population declines have triggered labor shortages and economic stagnation.

For now, the U.S. faces a stark choice: adapt to a future with fewer children or make fundamental changes to help families thrive.

Final Thought

A crude birth rate of 10.74 per 1,000 might not sound catastrophic—but in the context of aging populations, strained social programs, and a shrinking workforce, it could redefine America’s social and economic landscape in the decades ahead.

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