NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 89 ■ April 2012

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

National Center for Health Statistics

Birth Rates for U.S. Teenagers Reach Historic Lows 

for All Age and Ethnic Groups

Brady E. Hamilton, Ph.D., and Stephanie J. Ventura, M.A.

Key findings

Data from the Natality 

Data File, National Vital 

Statistics System

• The U.S. teen birth rate 

declined 9 percent from 2009 

to 2010, reaching a historic 

low at 34.3 births per 1,000 

women aged 15–19; the rate 

dropped 44 percent from 1991 

through 2010.

• Teen birth rates by age 

and race and Hispanic origin 

were lower in 2010 than ever 

reported in the United States.

• Fewer babies were born to 

teenagers in 2010 than in any 

year since 1946. If the teen 

birth rates observed in 1991 

had not declined through 2010 

as they did, there would have 

been an estimated 3.4 million 

additional births to teens during 

1992–2010.

• Teen birth rates fell in all but 

three states during 2007–2010. 

Teen birth rates by state vary 

significantly, reflecting in part 

differences in the population 

composition of states by race 

and Hispanic origin.

Teen childbearing has been generally on a long-term decline in the 

United States since the late 1950s (1–3). In spite of these declines, the U.S. 

teen birth rate remains one of the highest among other industrialized countries 

(4). Moreover, childbearing by teenagers continues to be a matter of public 

concern because of the elevated health risks for teen mothers and their infants 

(5,6). In addition, significant public costs are associated with teen childbearing, 

estimated at $10.9 billion annually (7). The most current data available from 

the National Vital Statistics System (NVSS), the 2010 preliminary file, are 

used to illustrate the recent trends and variations in teen childbearing.

Keywords: teen births • race and Hispanic origin • state rates 

The U.S. teen birth rate declined 9 percent to reach a historic 

low in 2010. 

• The birth rate for U.S. teenagers fell 9 percent from 2009 to 2010, to 

34.3, the lowest level ever reported in the seven decades for which a 

consistent series of rates is available (1,3) (Figure 1).

NOTE: Data for 2010 are preliminary.

SOURCE: CDC/NCHS, National Vital Statistics System.

Figure 1. Birth rates for women aged 15–19: United States, 1940–2010, and by age, 1960–2010 Rate per 1,000 women in specified age group

Year

0

25

50

75

100

125

150

175

18–19 years

15–17 years

15–19 years

1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 89 ■ April 2012

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• The 2010 rate was 44 percent below the recent peak in 1991, and 64 percent lower than the 

all-time high level of 96.3 recorded during the baby boom year of 1957 (1).

• Birth rates fell from 2009 to 2010 for teenagers in age groups 10–14, 15–17, and 18–19. 

The rate for the youngest teenagers was a record low for the United States (0.4). 

• The birth rate for teens aged 15–17 dropped 12 percent, from 19.6 per 1,000 in 2009 to 17.3 

in 2010. The 2010 rate was less than one-half the level in 1991 (38.6).

• The rate for ages 18–19 dropped 9 percent, from 64.0 in 2009 to 58.3 in 2010.

Fewer babies were born to teenagers in 2010 than in any year since the 

mid-1940s. 

• The number of babies born to women aged 15–19 was 367,752 in 2010, a 10-percent decline 

from 2009 (409,802), and the fewest reported in more than 60 years (322,380 in 1946) (1,3) 

(Figure 2).

• The 2010 total of births to teenagers was 43 percent lower than the peak recorded in 1970 

(644,708).

NOTE: Data for 2010 are preliminary.

SOURCE: CDC/NCHS, National Vital Statistics System.

Figure 2. Number of births for women aged 15–19: United States, 1940–2010 Number of births in thousands

Year

0

200

400

600

800

1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010

Birth rates for ages 15–19 declined to historic lows in 2010 in all racial and 

ethnic groups, but disparities remain. 

• Rates declined by 9 percent for non-Hispanic white and non-Hispanic black teenagers, by 

12 percent for American Indian or Alaska Native (AIAN) and Hispanic teenagers, and by 13 

percent for Asian or Pacific Islander (API) teenagers from 2009 to 2010 (3) (Figure 3).

• Rates in 2010 ranged from 10.9 per 1,000 API to 23.5 for non-Hispanic white teenagers, 38.7 

for AIAN, 51.5 for non-Hispanic black, and 55.7 for Hispanic teenagers.
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 89 ■ April 2012

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NOTE: Data for 2010 are preliminary.

SOURCE: CDC/NCHS, National Vital Statistics System.

Figure 3. Birth rates for women aged 15–19, by race and Hispanic origin: United States, 1991, 2005, 2007, and 2010 Rates per 1,000 women aged 15–19 in specified group

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140 1991 2005 2007 2010

Asian or

Pacific Islander

American Indian

or Alaska Native

Non-Hispanic Hispanic

black

Non-Hispanic

white

All races

61.8

39.7 41.5

34.4

43.4

118.2

104.6

59.4

76.5 75.3

55.7

84.1

46.0 49.4

38.7

27.3

15.4 14.8

10.9

62.0

51.5

26.0 27.2

23.5

If the 1991 birth rates prevailed, there would have been an estimated 3.4 

million additional births to teenagers from 1992 through 2010. 

•	 The	impact	of	the	decline	in	the	teen	birth	rate	on	the	number	of	births	to	teenagers	over	

the	nearly	two-decade	period,	1992–2010,	is	substantial.	If	the	1991	rates	had	continued	

to	prevail	from	1992	through	2010,	there	would	have	been	an	additional	3.4	million	births	

to	women	aged	15–19	in	the	United	States	(with	nearly	1	million	of	those	additional	births	

occurring	between	2008	and	2010)	(Figure	4).

NOTE: Data for 2010 are preliminary.

SOURCE: CDC/NCHS, National Vital Statistics System.

Figure 4. Estimated cumulative number of additional births to women aged 15–19 from 1992 through 2010 for the 

United States if 1991 birth rates had continued Estimated number of additional births in thousands

Year

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 89 ■ April 2012

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• These estimated additional births also take into account the rise in the female teen population 

as well as changes in the female teen population composition during this period. From 

1992 through 2010, the population of teenagers grew 28 percent overall, while the Hispanic 

teen population increased 110 percent. By comparison, the number of non-Hispanic white 

teenagers increased 8 percent and non-Hispanic black teenagers increased 37 percent.

Teen birth rates declined in all but three states during 2007–2010. 

• Rates fell by at least 8 percent in 47 states and the District of Columbia. Declines in 16 

states ranged from 20 percent to 29 percent (Figure 5).

• Rates did not change significantly in Montana, North Dakota, and West Virginia.

WA

OR

CA

NV

ID

MT

WY

UT

CO

AZ

NM

AK

TX

OK

KS

NE

SD

ND

MN

IA

MO

AR

LA

MS

TN

KY

IN

WI

MI

OH

NY

ME

IL

AL GA

FL

SC

NC

VA WV

PA

HI

MD

DE

NJ

CT RI

NH MA

VT

DC

No significant difference

Decreased significantly 

(8 percent–19 percent)

Sixteen largest significant decreases 

(20 percent–29 percent)

U.S. teen birth 

rate declined 

17 percent from 

2007 to 2010

NOTES: Data for 2010 are preliminary. Access data table for Figure 5 at: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db89_tables.pdf.

SOURCE: CDC/NCHS, National Vital Statistics System.

Figure 5. Change in birth rate for women aged 15–19, by state: United States, 2007–2010

Birth rates for teenagers continue to vary significantly across states. 

• The birth rate for teenagers ranged from 15.7 in New Hampshire to 55.0 in Mississippi in 

2010 (Figure 6).

• Rates tended to be highest in the South and Southwest and lowest in the Northeast and 

Upper Midwest, a pattern that has persisted for many years (1,8).

• Some of the variation across states reflects variation in population composition within states 

by race and Hispanic origin (data not shown) (1,8). 
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 89 ■ April 2012

■  5  ■

WA

OR

CA

NV

ID

MT

WY

UT

CO

AZ

NM

AK

TX

OK

KS

NE

SD

ND

MN

IA

MO

AR

LA

MS

TN

KY

IN

WI

MI

OH

NY

ME

IL

AL GA

FL

SC

NC

VA WV

PA

HI

MD

DE

NJ

CT RI

NH MA

VT

DC

50.0 or more

40.0–49.9

30.0–39.9

20.0–29.9

Less than 20.0

U.S. teen birth 

rate was 34.3 

in 2010

NOTES: Data for 2010 are preliminary. Access data table for Figure 6 at: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db89_tables.pdf.

SOURCE: CDC/NCHS, National Vital Statistics System.

Figure 6. Birth rate for women aged 15–19, by state: United States, 2010

Summary

The widespread significant declines in teen childbearing that began after 1991 have strengthened 

in recent years. The teen birth rate dropped 17 percent from 2007 through 2010, a record low, and 

44 percent from 1991. Rates fell across all teen age groups, racial and ethnic groups, and nearly 

all states. The drop in the U.S. rate has importantly affected the number of births to teenagers. If 

the 1991 rates had prevailed through the years 1992–2010, there would have been an estimated 

3.4 million additional births to teenagers during that period. 

The impact of strong pregnancy prevention messages directed to teenagers has been credited with 

the birth rate declines (9–11). Recently released data from the National Survey of Family Growth, 

conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Center for Health 

Statistics (NCHS), have shown increased use of contraception at first initiation of sex and use of 

dual methods of contraception (that is, condoms and hormonal methods) among sexually active 

female and male teenagers. These trends may have contributed to the recent birth rate declines (12).

Definitions

Teen birth rate: The number of births to women aged 15–19 (or other teen age group) per 1,000 

women aged 15–19 (or other teen age group).

Estimated additional teen births: The cumulative difference between the expected numbers of 

teen births based on the 1991 age-, race-, and Hispanic origin-specific rates prevailing from 1992 

through 2010 and the observed numbers of teen births. 
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 89 ■ April 2012

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Data sources and methods

This report contains data from the NVSS Natality Data File. The vital statistics natality files 

include 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 for 2009 and earlier years may also be accessed from the 

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

Birth rates for teenagers for 2010 are based on preliminary birth data. Information on the 2010 

data is available elsewhere (3). Population data for computing birth rates for 2010 were provided 

by the U.S. Census Bureau and are based on the April 1, 2010, census (13). Rates for 2001–2009 

have been revised on the basis of population estimates based on the 2000 and 2010 censuses, to 

provide more accurate data for the years since 2000 (14,15). The revised rates may differ from 

the original rates published in “Births: Final Data for 2009” (5) and earlier reports, which were 

based on 2000 postcensal population estimates. See “Births: Preliminary Data for 2010” for 

more information on the revised rates and the differences between the originally published and 

revised rates (3). Rates by state shown here may differ from rates computed on the basis of other 

population estimates (1,3). 

The additional number of teen births that would have been expected if the 1991 birth rates had 

continued from 1992 through 2010 was estimated by applying the 1991 teen birth rates by age, 

race, and Hispanic origin of mother to the estimated population of women for the same age, 

race, and Hispanic origin groups for each year from 1992 to 2010, summing the annual expected 

number, and subtracting the observed number of teen births for each year from 1992 to 2010. 

About the authors

Brady E. Hamilton and Stephanie J. Ventura are with CDC’s NCHS, Division of Vital Statistics, 

Reproductive Statistics Branch.

References

1. 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.

2. Ventura SJ, Hamilton BE. U.S. teenage birth rate resumes decline. NCHS data brief, no 58. 

Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2011.

3. Hamilton BE, Martin JA, Ventura SJ. Births: Preliminary data for 2010. National vital 

statistics reports; vol 60 no 2. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2011.

4. United Nations Statistics Division. Demographic yearbook 2009–2010. New York, NY: 

United Nations. 2011. Available from: http://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic/products/dyb/

dyb2009-2010.htm. 

5. Martin JA, Hamilton BE, Ventura SJ, et al. Births: Final data for 2009. National vital statistics 

reports; vol 60 no 1. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2011.
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 89 ■ April 2012

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6. Mathews TJ, MacDorman MF. Infant mortality statistics from the 2007 period linked birth/

infant death data set. National vital statistics reports; vol 59 no 6. Hyattsville, MD: National 

Center for Health Statistics. 2011.

7. The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy. Counting it up: The 

public costs of teen childbearing: Key data. Washington, DC: The National Campaign to Prevent 

Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy. Available from: http://www.thenationalcampaign.org/costs/pdf/

counting-it-up/key-data.pdf [Accessed 12/28/11].

8. Mathews TJ, Sutton PD, Hamilton BE, Ventura SJ. State disparities in teenage birth rates in 

the United States. NCHS data brief, no 46. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 

2010.

9. The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy. National data. 

Washington, DC: The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy. Available from: 

http://www.thenationalcampaign.org/national-data/default.aspx [Accessed 11/28/10]. 

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

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

Unplanned Pregnancy. 2007. 

11. Oringanje C, Meremikwu MM, Eko H, Esu E, Meremikwu A, Ehiri JE. Interventions 

for preventing unintended pregnancies among adolescents. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 

(4):CD005215. 2009.

12. 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.

13. National Center for Health Statistics. Estimates of the April 1, 2010 resident population of 

the United States, by county, single-year of age (0, 1, 2, ..., 85 years and over), bridged race, 

Hispanic origin, and sex. 2011. Available from: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/bridged_race.htm.

14. National Center for Health Statistics. Intercensal estimates of the resident population of the 

United States for July 1, 2000–July 1, 2009, by year, single-year of age (0, 1, 2, ..., 85 years and 

over), bridged race, Hispanic origin, and sex. 2011. Available from: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/

nvss/bridged_race.htm.

15. National Center for Health Statistics. Intercensal estimates of the resident population of the 

United States for July 1, 2000–July 1, 2009, by year, state, 5-year age group (0–4, 5–9, ..., 85 

years and over), bridged race, Hispanic origin, and sex. 2011. Available from: http://www.cdc.

gov/nchs/nvss/bridged_race.htm.
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 89 ■ April 2012

Suggested citation

Hamilton BE, Ventura SJ. Birth rates for 

U.S. teenagers reach historic lows for all age 

and ethnic groups. NCHS data brief, no 89. 

Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health 

Statistics. 2012.

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

Edward J. Sondik, Ph.D., Director

Jennifer H. Madans, Ph.D., Associate 

Director for Science

Division of Vital Statistics

Charles J. Rothwell, M.S., Director

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