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.