CDC: U.S. Fertility Rate Hits Record Low in 2025 as Births Rise Only Among Women Over 30

The U.S. general fertility rate fell to a record low of 53.2 births per 1,000 females in 2025, down 1 percent from 53.8 in 2024, according to final birth data the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released Wednesday. The CDC counted 3,612,012 births in 2025, slightly fewer than the 3,628,934 recorded in 2024. Birth rates decreased for females ages 10-29 and increased for women ages 30-44, and were unchanged for ages 45-49. Among the declines, the rate for girls ages 15-19 fell 7 percent, from 12.6 to 11.7. For ages 20-24 it fell 6 percent, from 55.8 to 52.3, and for ages 25-29 it fell 4 percent, from 89.5 to 85.7. The CDC data show the drop would have been larger without the increase among women over 30. The decline continues a trend of several decades: in 1925 the rate was 106.6 births per 1,000 women ages 15-44, about double today's. The average woman today has fewer than two babies, below the replacement rate.

Breitbart, the right-leaning outlet, leads with the "record low" label and gives the most numbers: the 53.2 and 53.8 rates, the total birth counts, and a breakdown for each age group under 30. It adds the comparison with 1925 and the below-replacement point, framing the story as a long-running decline. NPR, the left-leaning outlet, also leads with the record low and attributes it to the CDC, but its excerpt highlights that women over 30 are having more children and that this kept the drop from being greater. The two agree on the core finding and the older-women increase. They differ in emphasis: Breitbart stresses the scale and history of the fall, while NPR stresses the offsetting rise among older mothers. Alternative and independent outlets had not reported this story at the time of writing, while left-leaning and right-leaning outlets had.