NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 136 ■ December 2013

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

National Center for Health Statistics

Please note: Minor modifications have been made to the numbers and rates in this report due to corrections of calculation errors in abortion 

numbers by age from the Guttmacher Institute. The total number of abortions and the overall findings in this report have not changed.

Pregnancy Rates for U.S. Women Continue to Drop

Sally C. Curtin, M.A., Joyce C. Abma, Ph.D., and Stephanie J. Ventura, M.A., National Center for

Health Statistics; and Stanley K. Henshaw, Ph.D., Guttmacher Institute

Key findings

• The pregnancy rate for U.S. 

women in 2009 was 102.1 per 

1,000 women aged 15–44, the 

lowest level in 12 years; only 

the 1997 rate of 101.6 has been 

lower in the last 30 years.

• Rates for women under 

age 30 fell during 1990–2009, 

while rates for women aged 30 

and over increased.

• Rates for teenagers 

reached historic lows in 2009, 

including rates for the three 

major race and Hispanic origin 

groups.

• Pregnancy rates have 

declined about 10% each for 

married and unmarried women 

since 1990.

• The birth rate for married 

women was 72% higher than 

the rate for unmarried women; 

the abortion rate for unmarried 

women was almost five times 

higher than the rate for married 

women.

Pregnancy rates for women in the United States continued to decline in 2009, 

reaching the lowest level in 12 years (102.1 per 1,000 women aged 15–44). 

This level is 12% below the 1990 peak (115.8) (1,2). The estimated number of 

pregnancies dropped to 6,369,000 (4,131,000 live births, 1,152,000 induced 

abortions, and 1,087,000 fetal losses). The drop in birth rates since 2007 

has been well documented. However, it is important to examine the other 

outcomes of pregnancy to understand the full scope of current reproductive 

trends. The data in this report provide a comprehensive picture of pregnancies 

and pregnancy outcomes. Data on pregnancy outcomes by age, race and 

Hispanic origin, and marital status are presented using data from the National 

Vital Statistics System, the Abortion Surveillance System and Guttmacher 

Institute, and the National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG).

Keywords: National Vital Statistics System • birth rates • abortion rates • 

pregnancy outcomes

Pregnancy rates were highest for women in their 20s.

Figure 1. Pregnancy rates, by age: United States, 1990, 2000, and 2009

NOTES: Rates are rounded to the nearest whole number. Access data for Figure 1 at: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/

db136_tables.pdf#1.

SOURCES: CDC/NCHS, National Vital Statistics System and National Survey of Family Growth; CDC, Abortion Surveillance 

System; and Guttmacher Institute. Rate per 1,000 women

0

50

100

150

200

250

15–44 15–17 18–19 20–24 25–29 30–34 35–39 40–44

1990 2000 2009

Age in years

116

105 102

77

52

36

168

136

106

199

181

154

179

169162

119

131138

57

6877

11 1519
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 136 ■ December 2013

■ 2 ■

• The overall number and rate of pregnancy were highest for women aged 25–29 in 2009, 

followed by women aged 20–24 (Figure 1 and Table). This is a change from 1990 and 2000, 

when rates for women aged 20–24 were the highest of all groups (2).

• Pregnancy rates in 2009 for older teenagers aged 18–19 (106 per 1,000) were nearly three 

times the rates for younger teenagers aged 15–17 (36 per 1,000).

• Pregnancy rates for women under age 30 declined consistently across all three time points, 

whereas rates for women aged 30 and over increased consistently.

• The largest declines in the pregnancy rates from 1990 to 2009 among women aged 15–44 

were for teenagers aged 15–17 (down 53%) and 18–19 (down 37%).

Table. Number (in thousands) of pregnancies by outcome of pregnancy, by age, race, and Hispanic origin of woman:

United States, 2009

Age in years

Pregnancy outcome 

and race and 

Hispanic origin

15–19

Total

Under

15 Total 15–17 18–19 20–24 25–29 30–34 35–39

40 and 

over

All pregnancies1 6,369 12 705 231 474 1,608 1,696 1,353 793 203

Live births 4,131 5 410 124 286 1,006 1,167 955 474 114

Induced abortions 1,152 5 176 60 116 376 284 173 101 37

Fetal losses2 1,087 2 120 47 73 226 245 224 217 52

Non-Hispanic white

All pregnancies 3,207 3 267 75 192 738 900 746 440 113

Live births 2,232 1 161 40 121 495 663 570 276 66

Induced abortions 383 1 60 20 41 130 86 52 38 16

Fetal losses2 591 0 46 15 31 113 150 125 126 30

Non-Hispanic black

All pregnancies 1,253 5 199 69 130 390 308 209 112 30

Live births 615 2 99 32 67 196 155 100 51 13

Induced abortions 445 3 70 25 45 146 115 68 34 9

Fetal losses2 192 1 29 12 17 48 39 40 28 7

Hispanic3

All pregnancies 1,474 4 214 79 136 408 374 277 156 39

Live births 1,000 2 136 48 88 275 271 196 97 23

Induced abortions 252 1 37 13 25 82 64 39 21 7

Fetal losses2 222 1 41 18 23 52 39 42 38 9

1

Includes races other than white and black and origin not stated.

2

Spontaneous fetal losses from recognized pregnancies of all gestational periods, as estimated from reports from women in the 1995, 2002, and 2006–2010 

National Surveys of Family Growth. The rate of fetal loss depends on the degree to which losses at very early gestations are detected. See references 1 and 2 

for more information.

3

Includes all persons of Hispanic origin of any race.

NOTES: Due to rounding, numbers may not add to totals. Due to sample size limitations in any given year, fetal loss numbers for teenagers are based on the 

1988, 1995, 2002, and 2006–2010 National Surveys of Family Growth. For information on sources and methods of estimation, see references 1 and 2. 
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 136 ■ December 2013

■ 3 ■

The U.S. pregnancy rate fell to a 12-year low in 2009, and the abortion rate 

was the lowest recorded during the 1976–2009 period.

• The pregnancy rate for U.S. women peaked in 1990 at 115.8 per 1,000 women aged 15–44. 

The rate for 2009 (102.1) is 12% lower than in 1990 (Figure 2).

• Since 1976, birth rates also peaked in 1990 (70.9 per 1,000), dropping about 7% by 2009.

This rate has continued to fall through 2012, to 63.0 (3).

• The abortion rate was the lowest recorded during the 1976–2009 period and has dropped 

almost continuously since 1980. The abortion rate in 2009 (18.5) was 32% lower than in 

1990 (27.4).

Figure 2. Pregnancy, birth, and abortion rates for women aged 15–44: United States, 1976–2009, and birth rate, 

2010–2012

1

Data not available for 2010–2012.

NOTE: Access data for Figure 2 at: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db136_tables.pdf#2, and see reference 1 for more information.

SOURCES: CDC/NCHS, National Vital Statistics System and National Survey of Family Growth; CDC, Abortion Surveillance System; and Guttmacher Institute.

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

2012

2011

1976 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010

Abortion rate1

Birth rate

Pregnancy rate1

Rate per 1,000 women aged 15–44

Pregnancy, birth, and abortion rates for teenagers reached historic lows in 

2009.

• The pregnancy rate for U.S. teenagers fell steadily from 1990–2009, except for a brief 

increase in 2006–2007 (Figure 3).

• The teen birth rate in 2009 (37.9 per 1,000) was 39% lower than the 1991 peak (61.8) and 

has continued to fall through 2012, reaching a record low (29.4).

• The 2009 abortion rate for teenagers (16.3 per 1,000) was less than one-half the rate in 1991 

(37.4) and 1990 (40.3).
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 136 ■ December 2013

■ 4 ■

Figure 3. Pregnancy, birth, and abortion rates for teenagers aged 15–19: United States, 1976–2009, and birth rate, 

2010–2012

1

Data not available for 2010–2012.

NOTE: Access data for Figure 3 at: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db136_tables.pdf#3, and see reference 1 for more information.

SOURCES: CDC/NCHS, National Vital Statistics System and National Survey of Family Growth; CDC, Abortion Surveillance System; and Guttmacher Institute. 

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

2012

2011

1976 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010

Abortion rate1

Birth rate

Pregnancy rate1

Rate per 1,000 women aged 15–19

Teen pregnancy rates continued to fall and reached record lows in 2009 for 

the three major race and Hispanic origin groups.

• From 1990 to 2009, rates fell 51% for non-Hispanic white and non-Hispanic black teenagers 

and 40% for Hispanic teenagers (Figure 4).

• Non-Hispanic black and Hispanic teen pregnancy rates were at least twice those of nonHispanic white teenagers during the entire period.

• The non-Hispanic black teen pregnancy rate was 39% higher than the Hispanic teen rate in 

1990 (232.7 compared with 167.4). The difference disappeared by the mid-2000s, and then 

reappeared in 2006.

Figure 4. Pregnancy rates for teenagers aged 15–19, by race and Hispanic origin: United States, 1990–2009

NOTE: Access data for Figure 4 at: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db136_tables.pdf#4.

SOURCES: CDC/NCHS, National Vital Statistics System and National Survey of Family Growth; CDC, Abortion Surveillance System; and Guttmacher Institute. 

0

50

100

150

200

250

1990 1995 2000 2005 2009

Non-Hispanic white

Total

Non-Hispanic black

Hispanic

Rate per 1,000 women aged 15–19
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 136 ■ December 2013

■ 5 ■

Pregnancy rates fell equally for married and unmarried women since 1990; 

large differences in pregnancy outcomes persist.

• Among women aged 15–44, the pregnancy rate for married women in 2009 was 24% higher 

than the rate for unmarried women (Figure 5). Rates for both of these groups have declined 

10% since 1990.

• Most of the decline in the pregnancy rate for married women (7%) was between 1990 and 

2000. The 2009 pregnancy rate was 3% lower than the rate in 2000.

• The pregnancy rate for unmarried women decreased 12% between 1990 and 2000 but then 

increased 2% from 2000 to 2009.

• Pregnancy rates by outcome of pregnancy differ between married and unmarried women 

throughout the period 1990–2009. The birth rate for married women was 72% higher in 

2009 than the rate for unmarried women (85.6 compared with 49.9), while the abortion rate 

for unmarried women was almost five times greater than the rate for married women (28.9 

compared with 6.1).

Figure 5. Pregnancy rates, by outcome and marital status: United States, 1990, 2000, and 2009

NOTE: Access data for Figure 5 at: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db136_tables.pdf#5.

SOURCES: CDC/NCHS, National Vital Statistics System and National Survey of Family Growth; CDC, Abortion Surveillance System; and Guttmacher Institute. Rate per 1,000 women aged 15–44

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140 Fetal loss

Abortion

Live birth

126.6

117.7 114.1

102.4

90.3 92.1

22.8

22.3 22.4

10.8

11.3 13.3

10.6

7.9 6.1

47.7

34.9 28.9

93.2 87.4 85.6

43.8 44.1 49.9

1990

Married women Unmarried women

2000 2009 1990 2000 2009

Summary

After a brief increase in 2006 and 2007, the ongoing declines in the number and rate of 

pregnancies continued in 2009, with the overall rate reaching the lowest level in 12 years. 

Between 1990 and 2009, rates declined for women under age 30 and increased for women aged 

30 and over. The most sustained changes in pregnancy rates have been the steep declines in teen 

pregnancy rates, with rates falling for all pregnancy outcomes and for all age and Hispanic origin 

and race groups. Pregnancy rates have declined for married and unmarried women, but large 

differences by marital status remain in pregnancy rates by outcome of pregnancy.
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 136 ■ December 2013

■ 6 ■

The recent trends and variations in pregnancy, birth, and abortion rates among U.S. women have 

been associated with a variety of demographic, social, and economic factors, and related program 

and policy efforts. It has been suggested that the declining economy, beginning in 2007, has 

likely played a role in the decreased rates for women under age 40 (4). For teenagers, evidence 

shows that trends in the behavioral determinants of pregnancy are consistent with the declines 

in their pregnancy rates. For example, the latest NSFG data show a continuation of a long-term 

downward trend in the percentage of teenagers who are sexually experienced, and a long-term 

upward trend in the use of contraception at first sex (5). The degree to which pregnancies are 

unintended or unplanned also contributes to understanding the rates, not only for teenagers, but 

for women of all ages (6). Nearly all abortions are a result of unintended pregnancy (7). Thus, 

differences in outcomes across groups such as married and unmarried women are closely related 

to differences in unintended pregnancies among these groups (6,7).

The most recent birth data for 2012 show continued declines in birth and fertility rates for women 

under age 30 and for most race and Hispanic origin groups (3). However, these data suggest that 

the declines have slowed. More current data on abortions will help determine whether pregnancy 

rates have leveled off as well.

Definitions

Pregnancy rate: The number of pregnancies (including births, induced abortions, and fetal losses) 

per 1,000 women in a specified age or race and Hispanic origin group.

Birth rate: The number of births per 1,000 women in a specified age or race and Hispanic origin 

group.

Abortion rate: The number of induced abortions per 1,000 women in a specified age or race and 

Hispanic origin group.

Fetal loss rate: The number of fetal losses per 1,000 women in a specified age or race and 

Hispanic origin group.

Data sources and methods

Statistics for live births are based on complete counts of births provided by every state to the 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Center for Health Statistics, 

through the Vital Statistics Cooperative Program of the National Vital Statistics System (8). This 

report includes birth data through 2012, although most of the data discussed are for 2009.

Estimates of induced abortions are from abortion surveillance information collected from most 

states by CDC’s National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion; these 

estimates are adjusted to national totals by the Guttmacher Institute (9–11). The demographic 

information on the women who obtain abortions in CDC’s abortion surveillance reporting area 

is then applied to the Guttmacher Institute’s national totals, to arrive at national estimates of 

abortions by these characteristics. Additional information is available elsewhere (1,2).

Estimates of fetal losses are derived from the pregnancy history data collected by NSFG (12). 

The NSFG data used for these estimates are from the surveys conducted in 1995, 2002, and 
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 136 ■ December 2013

■ 7 ■

2006–2010, and for teenagers, data from the 1988 survey are included as well. These four cycles 

were combined to provide statistical reliability because of small numbers of pregnancies in 

some age-race-Hispanic origin groups in the NSFG samples. Procedures for fetal loss estimates 

for years prior to 1990 are described elsewhere (1,2). The fetal loss figures are estimates, and 

variations reflect, in part, the extent to which pregnancies are recognized, especially at very early 

gestation periods. Despite this limitation of the NSFG data, they still have advantages over vital 

statistics data, as fetal losses are underreported in vital statistics, and national data for fetal losses 

prior to 20 weeks of gestation are not available (13). For more information, see Technical Notes 

in reference 2.

The population denominators used for all rates in this report are consistent with the 2000 and 

2010 censuses (14).

About the authors

Sally Curtin, Joyce Abma, and Stephanie Ventura are with the National Center for Health 

Statistics, and Stanley Henshaw is with the Guttmacher Institute.

References

1. Ventura SJ, Mosher WD, Curtin SC, et al. Trends in pregnancies and pregnancy rates by 

outcome: Estimates for the United States, 1976–96. National Center for Health Statistics. Vital 

Health Stat 21(56). 2000. Available from: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/series/sr_21/sr21_056.

pdf.

2. Ventura SJ, Curtin SC, Abma JC, Henshaw SK. Estimated pregnancy rates and rates of 

pregnancy outcomes for the United States, 1990–2008. National vital statistics reports; vol 60 

no 7. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2012. Available from: 

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr60/nvsr60_07.pdf.

3. Hamilton BE, Martin JA, Ventura SJ. Births: Preliminary data for 2012. National vital 

statistics reports; vol 62 no 3. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2013. 

Available from: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr62/nvsr62_03.pdf.

4. Livingston G. In a down economy, fewer births. Pew Research Center Social & Demographic 

Trends. Washington, DC: Pew Research Center. 2011.

5. Martinez G, Copen CE, Abma JC. Teenagers in the United States: Sexual activity, 

contraceptive use, and childbearing, 2006–2010 National Survey of Family Growth. National 

Center for Health Statistics. Vital Health Stat 23(31). 2011. Available from: http://www.cdc.gov/

nchs/data/series/sr_23/sr23_031.pdf.

6. Mosher WD, Jones J, Abma JC. Intended and unintended births in the United States:

1982–2010. National health statistics reports; no 55. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health 

Statistics. 2012. Available from: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhsr/nhsr055.pdf.

7. Finer LB, Henshaw SK. Abortion incidence and services in the United States in 2000. 

Perspect Sex Reprod Health 35(1):6–15. 2003.
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 136 ■ December 2013

8. Martin JA, Hamilton BE, Ventura SJ, et al. Births: Final data for 2011. 

National vital statistics reports; vol 62 no 1. Hyattsville, MD: National 

Center for Health Statistics. 2013. Available from: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/

data/nvsr/nvsr62/nvsr62_01.pdf.

9. Pazol K, Creanga AA, Zane SB, Burley KD, Jamieson DJ. Abortion 

surveillance—United States, 2009. MMWR Surveill Summ 61(8). 2012.

10. Jones RK, Kooistra K. Abortion incidence and access to services in the 

United States, 2008. Perspect Sexual Reprod Health 43(1):41–50. 2011.

11. Henshaw SK. Unpublished tabulations. Guttmacher Institute. 2000 and 

2011–2013.

12. Lepkowski JM, Mosher WD, Davis KE, Van Hoewyk J. The 2006–

2010 National Survey of Family Growth: Sample design and analysis of a 

continuous survey. National Center for Health Statistics. Vital Health Stat 

2(150). 2010. Available from: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/series/sr_02/

sr02_150.pdf.

13. MacDorman MF, Kirmeyer SE, Wilson EC. Fetal and perinatal mortality, 

United States, 2006. National vital statistics reports; vol 60 no 8. Hyattsville, 

MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2012. Available from: 

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr60/nvsr60_08.pdf.

14. National Center for Health Statistics. U.S. census populations with 

bridged race categories. Downloadable data files and documentation. 

Available from: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/bridged_race.htm [Accessed 

June 17, 2013].

Suggested citation

Curtin SC, Abma JC, Ventura SJ, Henshaw 

SK. Pregnancy rates for U.S. women 

continue to drop. NCHS data brief, no 136. 

Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health 

Statistics. 2013.

Copyright information

All material appearing in this report is in 

the public domain and may be reproduced 

or copied without permission; citation as to 

source, however, is appreciated.

National Center for Health 

Statistics

Charles J. Rothwell, M.S., Acting Director

Jennifer H. Madans, Ph.D., Associate 

Director for Science

Division of Vital Statistics

Delton Atkinson, M.P.H., M.P.H., P.M.P.,

Acting Director

For e-mail updates on NCHS publication 

releases, subscribe online at: 

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/govdelivery.htm.

For questions or general information

about NCHS:

Tel: 1–800–CDC–INFO (1–800–232–4636)

TTY: 1–888–232–6348

Internet: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs

Online request form: http://www.cdc.gov/

cdc-info/requestform.html

ISSN 1941–4927 Print ed.

ISSN 1941–4935 Online ed.

DHHS Publication No. 2014–1209

CS244353

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF

HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

National Center for Health Statistics

3311 Toledo Road, Room 5419

Hyattsville, MD 20782

OFFICIAL BUSINESS 

PENALTY FOR PRIVATE USE, $300

FIRST CLASS MAIL 

POSTAGE & FEES PAID 

CDC/NCHS

PERMIT NO. G-284