Summary

The number of births in the US increased slightly in 2024 to roughly 3.6 million, according to provisional data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The small increase of 1% comes amid a long-term decline that began during the Great Recession, in about 2008.

The slight year-over-year increase in births is mostly due to Hispanic and Asian mothers, whose birth rates rose 4% and 5%, respectively. The report also showed a record low number of teenage girls and young women giving birth, while the number of women aged 40-44 increased.

However, at least one demographer warned against drawing any conclusions about a trend from the data – noting that growing US families face sustained challenges in economic uncertainty, housing and childcare costs.

    • JasonDJ@lemmy.zip
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      10
      ·
      11 hours ago

      I expect birth rates to drop suddenly around August/September. I’m guessing a lot fewer planned pregnancies after last November.

      • Ep1cFac3pa1m@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        4
        ·
        edit-2
        7 hours ago

        Agreed, that’s why I went with 2026. Right up until Election Day 2024 I imagine people were still planning families, but once all those kids are born in 2025 I expect a drop off.

  • atzanteol@sh.itjust.works
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    22
    arrow-down
    2
    ·
    15 hours ago

    If only there were some way we could get more people into the nation and working without needing to convince people to have children.