Here’s a significant change happening worldwide: Birth rates are falling as individuals make various parenting decisions in the context of shifting family structures.

From the United States to Singapore, the global birth rate has decreased since 1960 as people face higher living and childcare costs. Additionally, many are contending with health issues and changing social perceptions about parenthood, according to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development’s 2024 societal report.

This international organization consists of 38 nations, including the U.S., and aims to find solutions to various social, economic, and environmental challenges.

“In recent decades, numerous factors have affected women’s decisions regarding childbirth,” the OECD noted in the report. Key contributors include: higher educational attainment among women, better access to effective birth control, a rise in dual-income households, and enhanced public policies like paid parental leave and formal early education and childcare services.

“Moreover, the series of global crises has heightened economic, job market, and housing uncertainties, especially for younger individuals, making it harder for them to transition into parenthood,” the report indicates.

In the United States, the birth rate is monitored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which studies the number of births and the various influencing factors, according to birth statistician Brady Hamilton from the National Center of Health Statistics. He mentioned that the CDC analyzes the data by different age groups and races, providing a more detailed population overview.

“The more granular the data, the clearer the understanding of population structure changes,” he explained.

How is the birth rate calculated?

Two primary birth rates are analyzed, Hamilton explained – the crude birth rate and the fertility rate. The crude birth rate reflects the number of births per 1,000 individuals, calculated by dividing annual births by the average population for that year.

“Not everyone in the general population reproduces,” Hamilton pointed out. “Young individuals don’t, older people don’t. The number of births is influenced by the size of the population of women capable of having children, which leads us to fertility rates.”

Fertility rates are defined by the total births occurring to women aged 15 to 44.

How many people are born every day?

According to the CDC, there were 3,667,758 births in the U.S. in 2023, averaging about 9,852 births daily.

What is the current birth rate?

The crude birth rate for the United States in 2023 stood at 10.74 births per 1,000 people, as reported by the CDC.

Among the 50 states, Vermont had the lowest birth rate at 7.82 births per 1,000 people, while Utah had the highest at 13.17 births per 1,000.

In the same year, the fertility rate was recorded at 54.5 births per 1,000 women aged 15 to 44, showing a slight decline from the previous year’s rate of 56 births per 1,000 women.

Is the U.S. birth rate declining?

Indeed, the U.S. birth rate has been steadily decreasing since 2007, according to a press release from the White House in May. Factors contributing to this decline include a trend of young adults living longer with their parents, anxieties about job security tied to having a child, and young people being outside the workforce or education, as noted by the OECD. However, the agency suggests that improvements can be made if women achieve equity with men in work-life balance and compensation.

“Younger generations increasingly find purpose in life beyond parenthood, leading to a greater acceptance of not having children,” the organization commented.

How does the U.S. compare to other countries?

According to the United Nations’ global population statistics, the average birth rate worldwide is 16.52 births per 1,000 individuals. The U.S. ranks among the countries with higher birth rates; Greenland leads with 14.1 births per 1,000, whereas Saint Pierre and Miquelon has the lowest at 5.2 births per 1,000 people.

Among 236 countries, the Central African Republic has the highest birth rate globally at 45.35 births per 1,000 people, while Vatican City has the lowest at 4.21 births per 1,000 people.

Birth rates help companies, government agencies prepare for the future

Hamilton emphasized that understanding birth rates, alongside immigration and mortality data, is vital for health agencies to assess societal demographics and the potential need for adaptations in response to lower birth rates.

Pew Charitable Trusts highlighted in a December 2022 report that tracking birth rates is critical for school districts, as a decline in births could lead to reduced budgets and potential school closings. Conversely, a surge in births necessitates increased funding and infrastructure for educational institutions. For instance, Minnesota projected significant declines in student enrollment, prompting a 2.3% cut to its 2022 education budget.

“Some fiscal impacts have already started to manifest, while others may be subtle or not felt for several decades,” according to information on the Pew Charitable Trusts’ website.

Hamilton added that grasping the nuances of birth and fertility rates aids in understanding a region’s demographic landscape, including the composition of age-based generations, the sustainability of retirement welfare programs financed through income taxes, and fluctuations in specific racial populations within communities.

In the private sector, Hamilton noted that knowledge of birth rates is essential for businesses producing baby-related goods like baby food, formula, and toys. Monitoring these figures assists them in strategic planning.

He mentioned that this would help prevent shortages.

“There’s a wealth of information that can benefit various groups regarding birth statistics,” he added.