U.S. birth rates continued to decline in 2023, according to new data released by the CDC for Health Statistics. The number of births in the U.S. decreased by 2% from 2022 to 2023, with 3,596,017 births registered. The general fertility rate fell 3% to 54.5 births per 1000 females aged 15-44 years.

Key findings from the report included:

• The teen birth rate for ages 15-19 declined 4% to 13.1 births per 1000 females
• First trimester prenatal care declined 1% to 76.1% of pregnancies
• The preterm birth rate remained unchanged at 10.41%
• Early-term births increased 2% to 29.84%

The data came from the National Vital Statistics System's natality files, based on birth certificate information for all U.S. births.

The 2023 general fertility rate of 54.5 births per 1000 females aged 15-44 represented a 3% decrease from 56.0 in 2022 and 56.3 in 2021. This continued a trend of declining fertility rates since 2007, with a 21% total reduction over that period.

Birth rates declined for all teenage age groups from 2022 to 2023:

• Ages 15-19: 4% decline to 13.1 births per 1000 females
• Ages 15-17: 2% decline to 5.5 births per 1000 females
• Ages 18-19: 5% decline to 24.6 births per 1000 females

The percentage of mothers receiving first trimester prenatal care declined for the second consecutive year:

• 2023: 76.1%
• 2022: 77.0%
• 2021: 78.3%

Simultaneously, there were increases in later initiation of care:

• Second trimester care: 16.9% in 2023, up 4% from 16.3% in 2022
• Third trimester care: 4.7% in 2023, up 2% from 4.6% in 2022
• No prenatal care: 2.3% in 2023, up 5% from 2.2% in 2022

The preterm birth rate (less than 37 weeks gestation) was 10.41% in 2023 compared to 10.38% in 2022. There were shifts in the distribution of term births:

• Early-term births (37-38 weeks): Increased 2% to 29.84%
• Full-term births (39-40 weeks): Decreased 1% to 54.94%
• Late and post-term births (41+ weeks): Decreased 3% to 4.82%

Since 2014, preterm birth rates rose 9% and early-term births by 21%, while full-term and late/post-term births declined.

The report utilized data from the National Vital Statistics System natality files. Population estimates used to calculate rates were based on vintage 2023 estimates incorporating the 2020 census and demographic analysis estimates.

Statistical significance of differences was assessed using two-tailed z-tests for rates and percentages, and chi-squared tests for number of births, with a significance level of 0.05.