U.S. birth rate drops to record low, but older women are having more babies
The U.S. birth rate has hit a record low, driven by a significant decline in births among women in their late teens and twenties. While younger generations are increasingly opting out of parenthood due to economic and societal pressures, older women are having more children.
Why it matters
Shifting fertility trends have long-term implications for the U.S. labor market, social safety nets, and overall demographic structure.
Sarah Harris was 37 years old when she gave birth to her daughter Bridget last year. She describes motherhood as equal parts joy and exhaustion. "When you have a baby in your mid-30s, what you gain in wisdom and experience you also lose in terms of energy," Harris says with a laugh.
Harris, who lives in Vermont, was laid off from a job four months after Bridget was born. She says she's still figuring out what her career and her life will look like with a child. Harris thinks a lot of women are like her. They're wrestling with financial uncertainty and waiting much later to choose pregnancy.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in