US fertility rate hits all-time low with only 1.6 children born per woman

New data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has revealed that the fertility rate in the United States has fallen to an all-time low of just under 1.6 children per woman.

The report released from the CDC used birth certificate data, and found that between 2023 and 2024, the number of births increased one percent, from 3,596,017 to 3,628,934 births, but the general fertility rate, the number of births per 1,000 females ages 15 to 44, dropped from 54.5 to 53.8.

The CDC also found that birth rates for females in the 15 to 19, 20 to 24, 25 to 29, 30 to 34 age groups fell, while the birth rate in the 35 to 39 group remained the same between 2023 and 2024, and the 40 to 44 age group saw a slight increase.

In April, the Trump administration revealed plans to help increase the fertility rate in the US, including a $5,000 "baby bonus" for mothers after they deliver a child.

As part of the "One Big Beautiful Bill” signed into law on July 4, the Child Tax Credit increased from $2,000 per qualifying child to $2,200, as well as new child savings accounts that include a $1,000 payment from the federal government.

On the campaign trail, the president pledged to expand access to in vitro fertilization treatments, either through the government paying for the costs or directing insurance companies to reimburse families for the process.

An executive order signed by Trump in February also directed his administration to gather "policy recommendations on protecting IVF access and aggressively reducing out-of-pocket and health plan costs for IVF treatment."