Births in the United States: 2018

"Key findings

Data from the National Vital Statistics System

• The U.S. general fertility rate (births per 1,000 women aged 15–44) declined 2% between 2017 and 2018; fertility rates declined for non-Hispanic white, non-Hispanic black, and Hispanic women.
• The teen birth rate declined 7% from 2017 to 2018 to 17.4 births per 1,000 females aged 15–19. Rates fell for each race and Hispanic-origin group.
• The percentage of vaginal births after previous cesarean (VBAC) rose to 13.3% in 2018 with increases in VBAC deliveries for the three race and Hispanic-origin groups.
• Percentages of births delivered preterm and early term increased from 2017 to 2018, whereas full-term and late- and post-term deliveries declined. These patterns were consistent across race and Hispanic-origin groups..."
  Birth rates

Nonmarital Births: An Overview

"This report analyzes the trends in nonmarital childbearing, discusses some of the characteristics of unwed mothers, addresses some issues involving the fathers of children born outside of  marriage, and offers some concluding remarks.."
Nomarital births

Teen Birth Rates

"Teen birth rates (live births per 1,000 15–19-year-old U.S. females) decreased 6% overall from 2011 (31.3) to 2012 (29.4).¹ Decreases occurred for all races and for Hispanics. Despite these declines, geographic, socioeconomic, and racial and ethnic disparities persist. Achieving health equity, eliminating disparities, and improving the health of all groups is an overarching goal of Healthy People 2020..."
Teen Births

National Prematurity Awareness Month

"What is Premature Birth?
It is a birth that is at least three weeks before a baby's due date. It is also known as preterm birth (or less than 37 weeks—full term is 40 weeks). Important growth and development occur throughout pregnancy—especially in the final months and weeks..."
Premature Birth

Preventing Repeat Teen Births

Find information on help to prevent repeat teen births from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Preventing Repeat Teen Births

Census Bureau Reports Nearly 1 in 3 Unmarried Women Who Give Birth Cohabit
"The U.S. Census Bureau reported today that among the 1.5 million unmarried women who gave birth during the period between June 2007 and June 2008, about 425,000, or 28 percent, were living with a cohabitating partner. These unmarried mothers included those who were separated and those married with an absent spouse.

These findings are contained in Fertility of American Women: 2008, which reports that 4 million women age 15 to 44 gave birth during that time.

“The report shows that many unmarried new moms are not raising their child alone,” said demographer Jane Dye, who authored the report. “This is actually the first time the Census Bureau has reported on births to women in cohabitational relationships. One of the report's data sources, the Current Population Survey, recently added a direct question on cohabitation in order to measure this population.”

According to the report, by the time women reached the 40 to 44 age range in 2008, they had averaged 1.9 births in their lifetime, down from 3.1 births in 1976, when the Census Bureau first collected data on fertility. This reflects the decline in the likelihood of women having three or more children, as well as the increase in the proportion not having any at all..."

Live Births, Birth Rates, and Fertility Rates, by Race: United States, 1909-2003
Find statistics on historical births and birth rates by race.

Births: Final Data for 2007
"...A total of 4,316,233 births were registered in the United States in 2007, the largest number of births ever reported. The general fertility rate increased 1 percent to 69.5 per 1,000. Birth rates increased for women in nearly all age groups. The rate for teenagers rose 1 percent, and is up 5 percent from 2005. The total fertility rate increased 1 percent to 2,122.0 births per 1,000 women. 2008 preliminary data, however, suggest a decline in the number and rate of births overall, and for most age groups under 40 years. All measures of unmarried childbearing reached record levels in 2007. The cesarean delivery rate rose to another all-time high - 31.8 percent. Preterm and low birthweight rates declined slightly; twin and triplet and higher order multiple birth rates were essentially unchanged. Preliminary findings for 2008 suggest a continuation of these trends for cesarean delivery, unmarried childbearing, and preterm births."

Births: Final Data for 2007
"In 2007, 4,316,233 births were registered in the United States, 1 percent more than in 2006, and the highest number of births ever reported. Births increased for all race and Hispanic origin groups. Preliminary data for 2008, however, show a decline in births from 2007.
The 2007 general fertility rate was 69.5 births per 1,000 women aged 15–44 years, 1 percent more than in 2006, and the highest rate reported since 1990. Preliminary data indicate a decline in the general fertility rate for 2008..."

Trends and Characteristics of Home and Other Out-of-Hospital Births in the United States, 1990–2006
"Results—In 2006, there were 38,568 out-of-hospital births in the United States, including 24,970 home births and 10,781 births occurring in a freestanding birthing center. After a gradual decline from 1990 to 2004, the percentage of out-of-hospital births increased by 3% from 0.87% in 2004 to 0.90% in 2005 and 2006. A similar pattern was found for home births. After a gradual decline from 1990 to 2004, the percentage of home births increased by 5% to 0.59% in 2005 and remained steady in 2006. Compared with the U.S. average, home birth rates were higher for non-Hispanic white women, married women, women aged 25 and over, and women with several previous children. Home births were less likely than hospital births to be preterm, low birthweight, or multiple deliveries. The percentage of home births was 74% higher in rural counties of less than 100,000 population than in counties with a population size of 100,000 or more. The percentage of home births also varied widely by state; in Vermont and Montana more than 2% of births in 2005–2006 were home births, compared with less than 0.2% in Louisiana and Nebraska. About 61% of home births were delivered by midwives. Among midwife-delivered home births, one-fourth (27%) were delivered by certified nurse midwives, and nearly three-fourths (73%) were delivered by other midwives..."