The U.S. fertility rate has reached a historic low, with the average number of children per woman falling to 1.599 in 2024, according to new data released Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This marks the lowest rate since federal tracking began.
While the country once maintained a birth rate of around 2.1 children per woman — the level needed for population replacement — it has been steadily declining for nearly two decades. The new figure places the U.S. in line with Western European countries, where delayed parenthood and fewer births have become the norm.
In response, the Trump administration has promoted policies like expanded access to in vitro fertilization (IVF) and proposed “baby bonuses” as incentives for Americans to grow their families. But experts argue those efforts may fall short without addressing broader issues like parental leave and child care affordability.
The CDC’s latest full-year report — based on finalized birth certificate data — also revises earlier provisional trends. It shows birth rates declined in 2024 among women in their 20s and early 30s, with no increase among women in their late 30s.
