Despite a 1% increase of roughly 33,000 more babies last year, the number of births totaled just over 3.6 million

Newly released data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows the US fertility rate hit an all-time low of 1.599 children per woman in 2024—down from 1.621 in 2023.

The rate remains well below the 2.1 needed for population replacement.

Although births rose by about 33,000 last year—a 1% increase—the total still stood at just over 3.6 million.

The birth rate fell because of a variety of factors; people are marrying and starting a family later, and many face financial concerns about raising children.

The Trump administration is pushing for a birthrate boost with IVF access expansions and potential “baby bonuses,” but demographers say deeper issues like paid leave and affordable child care matter more.

Health experts frame the drop as a delay, not a crisis, noting that the US still has more births than deaths.

Interestingly, in the 1960s, the fertility rate was around 3.5 kids per woman, but it dropped to 1.7 by 1976. It rebounded to 2.1 in 2007 before starting its current decline.