Birth rates in the US have fallen to record lows.

(CLO) The birth rate in the US is projected to fall to a record low in 2025, reflecting a trend toward later births and profound societal changes.

In 2025, the U.S. is expected to see approximately 3.6 million births, equivalent to 53 births per 1,000 women of reproductive age – a 1% decrease from 2024 and nearly 20% lower than two decades prior, according to preliminary data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Experts believe that declining birth rates could have serious economic consequences, but it's crucial to understand the underlying causes of this decline.

Dr. Alison Gemmill, associate professor of epidemiology at the University of California, Los Angeles, emphasized: “Instead of just looking at the statistics, we need a people-centered approach. The decision to have children depends on many individual and social factors.”

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Currently, American women are tending to have children later in life. From 2024 to 2025, the birth rate is expected to increase slightly in the over-30 age group, but not enough to offset the decline in the under-30 group. Gemmill calls this a “massive societal shift,” as women have better control over their reproductive lives and when they get married. Later and less frequent marriages also influence the decision to have children.

Dr. Sigal Klipstein, a reproductive endocrinologist in Chicago, says the biggest reason women are slow to conceive is that they haven't found the right partner.

"They want to have children when their family is stable or financially secure. They are willing to wait rather than take a gamble," she said. Additionally, health concerns are causing many people to think more carefully before having children.

The economic impact of declining birth rates is long-term. Samuel Tombs, an economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics, says the decline in the young population affects workforce growth and Social Security funding, and slows economic growth from around 2.5% to below 2%. The US population is still growing slightly thanks to immigration, but the overall growth rate has slowed.

Source: https://congluan.vn/ty-le-sinh-o-my-giam-xuong-muc-thap-ky-luc-10337570.html