U.S. Births Hit 3.6M in 2025, Down 1% Amid 23-Year Plunge

The United States recorded 3,606,400 live births in 2025, a 1% decrease from 3,628,934 in 2024, according to provisional data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics, released April 10, 2026.[1][3][6] The general fertility rate fell 1% to 53.1 births per 1,000 women ages 15-44, extending a 23% drop from its 2007 high.[1] This continues a two-decade trend interrupted only by a slight 1% uptick from 2023 to 2024.[1][4] Teen births plunged 7% to a record low of 11.7 per 1,000 females ages 15-19, totaling 125,933 babies born to teen mothers, down 8% from 2024.[1] Cesarean delivery rates rose marginally to 32.5%, the highest since 2013's 32.7%, while preterm births held steady at 10.41%.[3] The figures draw from 99.95% of 2025 birth records processed by early February 2026; final numbers, due later this year, are expected to remain stable.[1] The decline underscores broader demographic pressures, with some analysts linking it partly to stricter immigration enforcement under the Trump administration.[1] Birth rates have fallen 23% overall since 2007, amid rising costs, delayed childbearing, and shifting social norms.[1][4] For 2024 final data, births rose 1% from 2023 using updated Census figures, though fertility rates still declined 1% to 53.8.[5] Trump officials have signaled intent to reverse the trend through pro-family policies, though specifics remain pending.[context] Experts note age-specific patterns: rates dropped for women 15-34, held for 35-39, and rose for 40-44 in recent years.[5] With provisional 2025 data confirming the slide, policymakers face mounting urgency on population sustainability.