U.S. fertility rate falls to 53 births per 1,000 women in first quarter of 2026

The general fertility rate in the United States fell to 53 births per 1,000 women of childbearing age during the first three months of 2026, according to provisional data released Tuesday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That figure continues a decline that began after the 2007 recession. The data indicate fewer than 900,000 births have occurred nationwide so far this year.

Background on the long-term trend Birth and fertility rates have fallen each year since 2007. The total number of births last year dropped 1 percent to 3.6 million, the lowest annual total on record. Teenage pregnancy rates have declined 81 percent since 1991, but the latest provisional figures show birth rates falling for women in every age group except those over 40.

Recent policy measures The administration established tax-advantaged savings accounts for children born between January 2025 and December 2028. The Department of Health and Human Services also launched a website offering resources and discounted prescriptions for fertility treatments.

The Congressional Budget Office earlier projected that the national population could begin to shrink by 2056 if current birth-rate trends continue.