Already a subscriber? Make sure to log into your account before viewing this content. You can access your account by hitting the “login” button on the top right corner. Still unable to see the content after signing in? Make sure your card on file is up-to-date.

The CDC has released new data that reveals another drop in the US birth rate.

What’s the deal: Recent CDC data reveals a continued drop in the US birth rate, with registered births falling 2% from 3,667,758 in 2022 to 3,596,017 in 2023. The general fertility rate also declined by almost 3%, from 56 to 54.5 births per 1,000 women aged 15-44.

Other findings: According to the CDC, birth rates fell between 2022 and 2023 for females aged 15–19 (4%), 15–17 (2%), and 18–19 (5%). The percentage of mothers receiving first-trimester prenatal care dropped by 1%, while those with no prenatal care rose by 5%.

Digging Deeper: Sarah Hayford, director of the Institute for Population Research at Ohio State University, attributes declining birth rates to economic worries, the high cost of raising children, and cultural shifts that make having fewer or no children more socially acceptable. In an interview with CNN, Hayford said, “People are waiting to have children. And on average, when people wait longer to have children, they end up having fewer children. I think there’s also greater social acceptance of not having children or having a smaller family. So as that has become more acceptable, people are more carefully weighing their decision to become parents.”

Some concerns: The declining birth rate has sparked concerns about potential issues like an aging population, where fewer young people must support a growing elderly demographic. This could strain social security, healthcare, and pensions due to fewer workers contributing to these systems. A smaller workforce might also slow economic growth, reduce demand for products and services, and make the country less competitive globally.