US Teen Birth Rate Continues Decades-Long Decline
- The United States teen birth rate reached a new historical low in 2025, according to provisional data released on April 9, 2026, by the Centers for Disease Control...
- According to the provisional report, the teen birth rate in 2025 was 11.7 births per 1,000 females aged 15 to 19.
- Brady Hamilton, a statistician demographer with the NCHS and the report's lead author, described the 7% decline as really quite extraordinary in a report published by NPR.
The United States teen birth rate reached a new historical low in 2025, according to provisional data released on April 9, 2026, by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The findings, published by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), indicate a continuing decades-long decline in adolescent childbearing.
According to the provisional report, the teen birth rate in 2025 was 11.7 births per 1,000 females aged 15 to 19. This represents a 7% decline from the previous year. In total, nearly 126,000 babies were born to mothers in this age group during 2025.
Brady Hamilton, a statistician demographer with the NCHS and the report’s lead author, described the 7% decline as really quite extraordinary
in a report published by NPR.
Historical Trends in Teen Birth Rates
The current rate of 11.7 births per 1,000 females marks a significant drop from previous decades. For comparison, the teen birth rate in 1991 was 61.8 births per 1,000. Data from the Annie E. Casey Foundation further illustrates this downward trajectory over the last several decades:
- 1990: 60 births per 1,000 teens
- 2000: 48 births per 1,000 teens
- 2010: 34 births per 1,000 teens
- 2020: 15 births per 1,000 teens
The total number of teen births has also seen a sharp decrease. Between 1990 and 2023, the total number of births to mothers aged 15 to 19 fell by 73%, dropping from 521,826 in 1990 to 140,977 in 2023.
Long-term NCHS estimates show that the teen birth rate has fluctuated significantly since the mid-20th century. The rate in 1940 was 54.1, eventually peaking in 1957 at 96.3 births per 1,000 females.
Broader Birth Trends and Data Limitations
The CDC report also highlighted other shifts in United States birth trends for 2025. The overall birth rate across all age groups fell by 1% compared to the previous year, continuing a long-term decline. While the rate of preterm births remained unchanged, the rate of cesarean deliveries increased to 32.5% in 2025, the highest rate recorded since 2013.
The CDC noted that this year’s provisional report covers fewer topics than previous versions. Specifically, the report does not include an analysis of births categorized by the mother’s race or ethnicity, although the agency stated that this data remains available through the CDC’s WONDER online database.
Public Health Context and Contributing Factors
Researchers attribute the decline in teen birth rates to several factors, including a decrease in sexual activity and expanded access to abortion and contraception.
Reducing the rate of adolescent childbearing is a priority for public health because teen parenting is associated with various social and health risks. According to a 2025 report on teen births in the United States:
Adolescent childbearing is associated with significant social, health, and financial risks for teens, their families and society more broadly.
2025 report on teen births in the United States
Specific hurdles associated with teen childbearing include:
- An increased risk of low-birth-weight babies or preterm births.
- Reduced academic attainment and performance for the mother.
- Limited family resources.
- A higher likelihood of continuing the cycle of teen parenting.