The U.S. birthrate dropped to a record low in 2025, according to new data from the National Center for Health Statistics, extending a downward trend that has persisted since the nation’s pre-recession peak in 2007.

Provisional figures show 3,606,400 births in 2025, a 1% decline from 2024. The general fertility rate. measuring births per 1,000 women ages 15 to 44, fell to 53.1, down from 53.8 the previous year and significantly below the 69.5 rate recorded in 2007.

Much of the decline continues to be driven by falling teen birthrates. The rate for females ages 15 to 19 dropped 7% to 11.7 births per 1,000, marking another record low. Teen births have fallen sharply over time, declining 72% since 2007 and 81% from their 1991 peak.

At the same time, births are increasingly concentrated among older women. The birthrate rose for women ages 30 to 34 and 35 to 39, while rates declined for women in their 20s. Analysts say this trend suggests many Americans are delaying parenthood rather than forgoing it entirely, though overall fertility remains well below past levels.

The declining birthrate is contributing to slower population growth. Census Bureau data shows U.S. population growth slowed to 0.5% between mid-2024 and mid-2025, with natural increase, births minus deaths, falling far below levels seen in previous decades.

Economists warn that sustained low fertility could have long-term consequences, including a shrinking labor force and increased pressure on entitlement programs such as Social Security and Medicare as the population ages. The data also indicates that future population growth may rely more heavily on immigration than on natural population increases.