NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 46 ■ October 2010

u.s. department of health and human services

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

National Center for Health Statistics

State Disparities in Teenage Birth Rates in the United States

T.J. Mathews, M.S.; Paul D. Sutton, Ph.D.; Brady E. Hamilton, Ph.D.; and Stephanie J. Ventura, M.A.

Key findings

• In 2008, state-specific 

teenage birth rates varied 

widely, from less than 25.0 per 

1,000 15–19 year olds to more 

than 60.0.

• Rates for non-Hispanic 

white and Hispanic teenagers 

were uniformly higher in the 

Southeast and lower in the 

Northeast and California.

• The highest rates for nonHispanic black teenagers were 

reported in the upper Midwest 

and in the Southeast.

• The race and Hispanic 

origin-specific birth rates by 

state as well as the population 

composition of states by race 

and Hispanic origin contribute 

to state variations in overall 

teenage birth rates.

Childbearing by teenagers has been the subject of public concern for decades. 

Births to teenagers are at higher risk of low birthweight and preterm birth, 

and death in infancy, compared with babies born to women in their twenties 

and older (1–3). With the exception of a 2-year increase between 2005 and 

2007, teenage birth rates have declined each year since 1991 (1,4,5). Despite 

nearly two decades of declining teenage birth rates, significant disparities in 

state-specific rates persist. This report examines disparities in teenage birth 

rates by state and among the largest racial and ethnic population groups. The 

most current data available from the National Vital Statistics System are from 

the 2008 preliminary file (4). Variations by race and ethnicity by state are 

illustrated using 2007 data, the most recent available with this detail.

Keywords: births • teenage birth rates • state rates

State-specific teenage birth rates are highest across the 

southern United States.

NOTE: Data for 2008 are preliminary.

SOURCE: CDC/NCHS, National Vital Statistics System.

Figure 1. Teenage birth rates for 15-19 year olds by State, 2008

AK

HI

DC

RI

NJ

DE

MD

MA

MS

LA

UT

CA

AZ NM

TX

GA

FL

ID

OR

MT

SD

ND

SC

NV

AL

IA

MN

WI

ME

CT

NE

VA

OH

PA

IL

MI

WA

KS CO

IN

KY

WV

NC TN

OK AR

NY

MO

WY

U.S. rate was 41.5 

per 1,000 women 

aged 15–19 years

VT

NH

10 highest

Significantly higher than the U.S. rate

Not significantly different from the U.S. rate

Significantly lower than the U.S. rate

10 lowest
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 46 ■ October 2010

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Table: Birth rates for teenagers 15–19 years: United States and each state, preliminary 2008 and by race and 

Hispanic origin of mother, final 2007

[By place of residence]

State

2008 2007

All races Non-Hispanic 

white1

Non-Hispanic 

black1

Hispanic

United States 41.5 27.2 64.2 81.8

Alabama 52.9 42.6 66.4 188.3

Alaska 46.9 28.2 51.2 61.3

Arizona 56.2 30.1 60.0 102.2

Arkansas 61.8 51.8 83.2 113.6

California 38.4 15.8 43.7 66.4

Colorado 42.5 22.9 57.6 101.0

Connecticut 22.9 9.7 43.6 76.9

Delaware 40.4 23.7 64.2 122.8

District of Columbia 50.9 4.3 64.8 115.5

Florida 42.8 30.8 67.9 62.1

Georgia 52.0 38.5 66.7 139.6

Hawaii 42.1 31.6 17.4 97.2

Idaho 41.2 32.9 * 104.3

Illinois 38.1 20.6 77.9 75.3

Indiana 43.7 37.7 76.9 101.4

Iowa 33.9 27.3 88.4 104.8

Kansas 45.6 33.3 71.1 109.3

Kentucky 55.6 51.5 72.4 133.0

Louisiana 54.1 40.3 77.5 75.0

Maine 26.1 26.1 53.8 31.3

Maryland 32.8 19.4 51.8 95.2

Massachusetts 20.1 13.7 39.4 71.2

Michigan 33.2 24.5 64.0 77.7

Minnesota 27.2 17.9 80.9 108.7

Mississippi 65.7 54.8 89.5 114.4

Missouri 45.5 37.9 77.2 92.9

Montana 40.7 29.3 * 37.7

Nebraska 36.5 23.3 93.0 116.9

Nevada 53.5 31.3 67.8 94.8

New Hampshire 19.8 19.0 * 49.1

New Jersey 24.5 8.5 50.2 65.7

New Mexico 64.1 36.4 46.4 85.6

New York 25.5 14.1 38.4 55.3

North Carolina 49.4 33.1 65.1 149.3

North Dakota 28.6 20.3 * 79.8

Ohio 41.0 32.9 78.6 87.6

Oklahoma 61.6 49.9 72.2 110.2

Oregon 37.2 27.0 45.1 93.4

Pennsylvania 31.5 20.3 69.9 100.4

Rhode Island 28.5 16.6 63.1 82.0

South Carolina 53.0 38.4 69.8 158.5

South Dakota 40.0 26.5 * 114.3

Tennessee 55.6 45.2 77.7 174.8

Texas 63.4 33.8 67.2 99.0

Utah 35.1 24.9 59.5 114.2

Vermont 21.3 22.3 * *

Virginia 33.5 24.0 53.6 90.7

Washington 34.6 24.5 44.8 99.4

West Virginia 48.8 47.8 49.4 43.7

Wisconsin 31.3 19.6 95.1 99.3

Wyoming 49.2 43.0 * 107.6

*Figure does not meet standards of reliability or precision; based on fewer than 20 births in the numerator. 1

Births with origin of mother not stated are included with non-Hispanic births.
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 46 ■ October 2010

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In 2008, teenage birth rates by state ranged from less than 25.0 per 1,000 15–19 year olds 

(Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont), to more than 60.0 per 1,000 

(Arkansas, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas). The lowest teenage birth rates were 

reported in the Northeast and upper Midwest. Rates were highest in states across the southern 

United States (Figure 1 and Table).

State variation in the composition of the teenage population does not fully 

explain state differences in the teenage birth rate. 

Teenage birth rates have historically been higher for non-Hispanic black and Hispanic teenagers 

than for non-Hispanic white teenagers (5–7). In 2007, the birth rate for Hispanic teenagers (81.8 

per 1,000 aged 15–19 years) was nearly three times the rate for non-Hispanic white teenagers 

(27.2), and the rate for non-Hispanic black teenagers (64.2) was more than twice the rate for 

non-Hispanic white teenagers (see Table). One would expect that states with large proportions 

of Hispanic or non-Hispanic black teenagers would have higher overall teenage birth rates. 

However, race and Hispanic origin specific rates also vary widely by state. Rates in 2007 for nonHispanic white teenagers ranged from 4.3 per 1,000 15–19 year olds in the District of Columbia 

to 54.8 in Mississippi; for non-Hispanic black teenagers, rates ranged from 17.4 in Hawaii to 95.1 

in Wisconsin; and for Hispanic teenagers, rates ranged from 31.1 in Maine to 188.3 in Alabama 

(see Table). 

Birth rates for non-Hispanic white teenagers are highest in the Southeast.

Birth rates in 2007 for non-Hispanic white teenagers tended to be highest in the Southeast, but 

were relatively high across the southern United States, similar to the pattern observed for all races 

combined (Figure 2). Birth rates for non-Hispanic white teenagers were lowest in the Northeast, 

SOURCE: CDC/NCHS, National Vital Statistics System.

Figure 2. Teenage birth rates for non-Hispanic white 15–19 year olds by State, 2007

AK

HI

NH

DC

RI

NJ

DE

MD

MA

MS

LA

UT

CA

AZ NM

TX

GA

FL

ID

OR

MT

SD

ND

SC

NV

AL

IA

MN

WI

ME

CT

NE

VA

OH

PA

IL

MI

WA

KS

CO

IN

KY

WV

NC TN

VT

AR OK

NY

MO

WY

U.S. rate was 27.2 per 

1,000 non-Hispanic 

white 15–19 year olds

10 highest

Significantly higher than the U.S. rate

Not significantly different from the U.S. rate

Significantly lower than the U.S. rate

10 lowest
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 46 ■ October 2010

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upper Midwest, and in California, ranging from less than 10.0 births per 1,000 non-Hispanic 

white 15–19 year olds (Connecticut, the District of Columbia, and New Jersey) to 50.0 or more 

births per 1,000 (Arkansas, Kentucky, and Mississippi). 

Birth rates for non-Hispanic black teenagers are highest in Southeastern 

and upper Midwestern states.

The highest birth rates for non-Hispanic black teenagers were reported in the upper Midwest and 

in the Southeast along the Mississippi River (Figure 3). Some of the lowest teenage birth rates 

were clustered in southern New England and along the Pacific coast. In 2007, birth rates for nonHispanic black teenagers ranged from less than 40.0 births per 1,000 15–19 year olds in Hawaii, 

Massachusetts, and New York, to more than 80.0 births per 1,000 in Arkansas, Iowa, Minnesota, 

Mississippi, Nebraska, and Wisconsin.

SOURCE: CDC/NCHS, National Vital Statistics System.

Figure 3. Teenage birth rates for non-Hispanic black 15–19 year olds by State, 2007

AK

HI

DC

RI

NJ

DE

MD

MA

MS

LA

UT

CA

AZ NM

TX

GA

FL

ID

OR

MT

SD

ND

SC

NV

AL

IA

MN

WI

ME

CT

NE

VA

OH

PA

IL

MI

WA

KS

CO

IN

KY

WV

NC TN

VT

AR OK

NY

MO

WY

U.S. rate was 64.2 per 

1,000 non-Hispanic 

black 15–19 year olds

NH

10 highest

Significantly higher than the U.S. rate

Not significantly different from the U.S. rate

Significantly lower than the U.S. rate

Fewer than 20 births in the numerator 10 lowest
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 46 ■ October 2010

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Birth rates for Hispanic teenagers are highest in the Southeast.

Birth rates for Hispanic teenagers in 2007 were relatively high across much of the United States, 

but the highest teenage birth rates were concentrated in the Southeast (Figure 4). Compared with 

the national birth rate for Hispanic teenagers, birth rates were significantly lower for Hispanic 

teenagers in California, New York, New Jersey, and Florida, which together accounted for 38% 

of Hispanic teenage births in 2007. However, state-specific birth rates for Hispanic teenagers 

exceeded the national Hispanic teenage birth rate in 35 states and the District of Columbia.

Birth rates for Hispanic teenagers ranged from less than 60.0 births per 1,000 Hispanic 15–19 

year olds (Maine, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, and West Virginia) to more than 120.0 

births per 1,000 in five Southeastern states (Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, 

and Tennessee).

SOURCE: CDC/NCHS, National Vital Statistics System.

Figure 4. Teenage birth rates for Hispanic 15–19 year olds by State, 2007

AK

HI

DC

RI

NJ

DE

MD

MA

MS

LA

UT

CA

AZ NM

TX

GA

FL

ID

OR

MT

SD

ND

SC

NV

AL

IA

MN

WI

ME

CT

NE

VA

OH

PA

IL

MI

WA

KS

CO

IN

KY

WV

NC TN

VT

AR OK

NY

MO

WY

U.S. rate was 81.8 

per 1,000 Hispanic 

15–19 year olds

NH

10 highest

Significantly higher than the U.S. rate

Not significantly different from the U.S. rate

Significantly lower than the U.S. rate

Fewer than 20 births in the numerator 10 lowest
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 46 ■ October 2010

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Summary

In 2008, as in previous years, teenage birth rates were consistently highest in states across the 

South and Southwest, and lowest in the Northeast and upper Midwest. The race and Hispanic 

origin-specific birth rates by state as well as the population composition of states by race and 

Hispanic origin both contribute to state variations in the teenage birth rate. Historically, national 

birth rates have been higher for Hispanic and non-Hispanic black teenagers than for non-Hispanic 

white teenagers. Thus, states with large proportions of Hispanic or non-Hispanic black teenagers 

would be expected to have higher overall teenage birth rates. Although this tends to be the 

observed pattern, there are some notable exceptions. Birth rates for non-Hispanic white, nonHispanic black, and Hispanic teenagers are all uniformly higher in the Southeast and lower in the 

Northeast and California. In fact, birth rates for non-Hispanic white, non-Hispanic black, and 

Hispanic teenagers in California, New York, and New Jersey are among the 10 lowest statespecific rates for each of these population groups. States in the upper Midwest exhibit a different 

pattern. Rates for non-Hispanic black teenagers in the upper Midwest are uniquely among the 10 

highest rates of all states. In contrast, in the same upper Midwestern states, birth rates for nonHispanic white teenagers are generally significantly lower than the U.S. rate for this group. 

Although teenage birth rates fell nationally and in 14 states from 2007 to 2008 (see expanded 

internet table— http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db46_tables.pdf), the birth rate for the 

United States remains substantially higher than for other Western countries (8).

 There has been a broad consensus on the goal of preventing teenage pregnancy, and a wide 

variety of public and private programs have been developed to meet this challenge (9–11). 

Variations in teenage birth rates reflect differences in many factors, including differences in 

socioeconomic factors such as education and income, risk behaviors such as sexual activity and 

contraceptive use, and attitudes among teenagers toward pregnancy and childbearing (12). 

Definition

Teenage birth rate: The number of births to women aged 15–19 years per 1,000 women aged 

15–19 years.

Data sources and methods

This report contains data from the Natality Data File from the National Vital Statistics System. 

The vital statistics natality file includes information for all births occurring in the United States. 

The natality files include information on a wide range of maternal and infant demographic and 

health characteristics for babies born in the United States. The natality files are available from: 

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data_access/VitalStatsOnline.htm. Data may also be accessed from the 

interactive data access tool, VitalStats, available from: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/VitalStats.htm. 

State-specific birth rates for teenagers for 2008 are based on preliminary birth data. Information 

on the 2008 data is available elsewhere (4). Population data for computing birth rates were 

provided by the U.S. Census Bureau. Rates by state may differ from rates computed on the basis 

of other population estimates (1,6).

Note: Birth rates by state are not shown for groups with fewer than 20 births in the numerator.
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 46 ■ October 2010

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About the authors

T.J. Mathews, Paul D. Sutton, Brady E. Hamilton, and Stephanie J. Ventura are with the Centers 

for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics, Division of Vital 

Statistics, Reproductive Statistics Branch. Yashodhara Patel, also with the Reproductive Statistics 

Branch, provided verification for the table and figures.

References

1. Martin JA, Hamilton BE, Sutton PD, et al. Births: Final data for 2007. National vital 

statistics reports; vol 58 no 24. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2010.

2. Martin JA, Osterman MJK, Sutton PD. Are preterm births on the decline in the United 

States? Recent data from the National Vital Statistics System. NCHS data brief, no 39. 

Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2010.

3. Mathews TJ, MacDorman MF. Infant mortality statistics from the 2006 period linked birth/

infant death data set. National vital statistics reports; vol 58 no 17. Hyattsville, MD: National 

Center for Health Statistics. 2010.

4. Hamilton BE, Martin JA, Ventura SJ. Births: Preliminary data for 2008. National vital 

statistics reports; vol 58 no 16. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2010.

5. Ventura SJ, Mathews TJ, Hamilton BE. Births to teenagers in the United States, 1940–2000. 

National vital statistics reports; vol 49 no 10. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health 

Statistics. 2001.

6. Hamilton BE, Sutton PD, Ventura SJ. Revised birth and fertility rates for the 1990s and new 

rates for hispanic populations, 2000 and 2001: United States. National vital statistics reports; vol 

51 no 12. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2003.

7. Sutton PD, Mathews TJ. Trends in characteristics of births by state: United States, 1990, 

1995, and 2000–2002. National vital statistics reports; vol 52 no 19. Hyattsville, MD: National 

Center for Health Statistics. 2004.

8. United Nations Statistics Division. Demographic yearbook 2007. New York, NY: United 

Nations; 2009. Available from: http://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic/products/dyb/dyb2007.

htm. Accessed July 29, 2010.

9. National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy. National Data. 

Washington, DC: National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy. Available from: http://www.

thenationalcampaign.org/national-data/default.aspx. Accessed July 8, 2010.

10. Kirby D. Emerging answers 2007: Research findings on programs to reduce teen pregnancy 

and sexually transmitted diseases. Washington, DC: National Campaign to Prevent Teen and 

Unplanned Pregnancy. 2007.

11. Oringanje C, Meremikwu MM, Eko H, et al. Interventions for preventing unintended 

pregnancies among adolescents. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 10:7(4):CD005215. 2009.

12. Abma JC, Martinez GM, Copen CE. Teenagers in the United States: Sexual activity, 

contraceptive use, and childbearing, National Survey of Family Growth 2006–2008. National 

Center for Health Statistics. Vital Health Stat 23(30). 2010.
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 46 ■ October 2010

ISSN 1941–4927 (Print ed.) 

ISSN 1941–4935 (Online ed.) 

CS216871 

T37970 (10/2010) 

DHHS Publication No. (PHS) 2011–1209