S. 1 in 2025, marking a record low. The decline includes a significant reduction in births among teens and young adults ages 15 to 19, with the fertility rate for this group down 7% recently and 70% over the last two decades.
S. 3 per 1,000. A 2024 CDC report indicates the recent decline in teen birth rates is largely due to fewer teens being sexually active and increased use of birth control among those who are.
S. has become increasingly unaffordable due to costs for child care, food, and other daily needs amid an affordability crisis. 56 children in the United States, which is below the level needed to maintain the population.
56 raises questions about potential long-term economic or social impacts. It remains unclear what specific factors beyond teen birth declines are contributing most to the overall fertility rate drop or how the 2025 figures compare to projections set by demographic experts. Legal context varies by state, with age of consent laws generally ranging from 16 to 18 years old and some states including exceptions for underage teens close in age.