The total fertility rate of the world has dropped from around 5 children per woman in 1950, to 2.2 children per woman in 2025, which means that women today are having fewer than half the number of children that women did 75 years ago. Replacement level fertility This change has come as a result of the global demographic transition, and is influenced by factors such as the significant reduction in infant and child mortality, reduced number of child marriages, increased educational and vocational opportunities for women, and the increased efficacy and availability of contraception. While this change has become synonymous with societal progress, it does have wide-reaching demographic impact - if the global average falls below replacement level (roughly 2.1 children per woman), as is expected to happen in the 2050s, then this will lead to long-term population decline on a global scale. Regional variations When broken down by continent, Africa is the only region with a fertility rate above the global average, and, alongside Oceania, it is the only region with a fertility rate above replacement level. Until the 1980s, the average woman in Africa could expect to have 6-7 children over the course of their lifetime, and there are still several countries in Africa where women can still expect to have 5 or more children in 2025. Historically, Europe has had the lowest fertility rates in the world over the past century, falling below replacement level in 1975. Europe's population has grown through a combination of migration and increasing life expectancy, however even high immigration rates could not prevent its population from going into decline in 2021.

For most of the past two centuries, falling birth rates have been associated with societal progress. During the demographic transition, where pre-industrial societies modernize in terms of fertility and mortality, falling death rates, especially among infants and children, are the first major change. In response, as more children survive into adulthood, women have fewer children as the need to compensate for child mortality declines. This transition has happened at different times across the world and is an ongoing process, with early industrial countries being the first to transition, and Sub-Saharan African countries being the most recent to do so. Additionally, some Asian countries (particularly China through government policy) have gone through their demographic transitions at a much faster pace than those deemed more developed. Today, in countries such as Japan, Italy, and Germany, birth rates have fallen well below death rates; this is no longer considered a positive demographic trend, as it leads to natural population decline, and may create an over-aged population that could place a burden on healthcare systems.

United States US: Fertility Rate: Total: Births per Woman data was reported at 1.800 Ratio in 2016. This records a decrease from the previous number of 1.843 Ratio for 2015. United States US: Fertility Rate: Total: Births per Woman data is updated yearly, averaging 2.002 Ratio from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2016, with 57 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 3.654 Ratio in 1960 and a record low of 1.738 Ratio in 1976. United States US: Fertility Rate: Total: Births per Woman data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.World Bank: Health Statistics. Total fertility rate represents the number of children that would be born to a woman if she were to live to the end of her childbearing years and bear children in accordance with age-specific fertility rates of the specified year.; ; (1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision. (2) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (3) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (4) United Nations Statistical Division. Population and Vital Statistics Reprot (various years), (5) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database, and (6) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme.; Weighted average; Relevance to gender indicator: it can indicate the status of women within households and a woman’s decision about the number and spacing of children.

Graph and download economic data for Fertility Rate, Total for the United States (SPDYNTFRTINUSA) from 1960 to 2023 about fertility, rate, and USA.

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Over the past 30 years, the birth rate in the United States has been steadily declining, and in 2023, there were 10.7 births per 1,000 of the population. In 1990, this figure stood at 16.7 births per 1,000 of the population. Demographics have an impact The average birth rate in the U.S. may be falling, but when broken down along ethnic and economic lines, a different picture is painted: Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander women saw the highest birth rate in 2022 among all ethnicities, and Asian women and white women both saw the lowest birth rate. Additionally, the higher the family income, the lower the birth rate; families making between 15,000 and 24,999 U.S. dollars annually had the highest birth rate of any income bracket in the States. Life expectancy at birth In addition to the declining birth rate in the U.S., the total life expectancy at birth has also reached its lowest value recently. Studies have shown that the life expectancy of both men and women in the United States has been declining over the last few years. Declines in life expectancy, like declines in birth rates, may indicate that there are social and economic factors negatively influencing the overall population health and well-being of the country.

Fertility Rate, Total for the United States was 1.61650 Births per Woman in January of 2023, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, Fertility Rate, Total for the United States reached a record high of 3.65400 in January of 1960 and a record low of 1.61650 in January of 2023. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Fertility Rate, Total for the United States - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on September of 2025.

CN: Population: Birth Rate: Anhui data was reported at 0.617 % in 2024. This records a decrease from the previous number of 0.645 % for 2023. CN: Population: Birth Rate: Anhui data is updated yearly, averaging 1.288 % from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2024, with 35 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 2.447 % in 1990 and a record low of 0.617 % in 2024. CN: Population: Birth Rate: Anhui data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Socio-Demographic – Table CN.GA: Population: Birth Rate: By Region.

Today, globally, women of childbearing age have an average of approximately 2.2 children over the course of their lifetime. In pre-industrial times, most women could expect to have somewhere between five and ten live births throughout their lifetime; however, the demographic transition then sees fertility rates fall significantly. Looking ahead, it is believed that the global fertility rate will fall below replacement level in the 2050s, which will eventually lead to population decline when life expectancy plateaus. Recent decades Between the 1950s and 1970s, the global fertility rate was roughly five children per woman - this was partly due to the post-WWII baby boom in many countries, on top of already-high rates in less-developed countries. The drop around 1960 can be attributed to China's "Great Leap Forward", where famine and disease in the world's most populous country saw the global fertility rate drop by roughly 0.5 children per woman. Between the 1970s and today, fertility rates fell consistently, although the rate of decline noticeably slowed as the baby boomer generation then began having their own children. Replacement level fertility Replacement level fertility, i.e. the number of children born per woman that a population needs for long-term stability, is approximately 2.1 children per woman. Populations may continue to grow naturally despite below-replacement level fertility, due to reduced mortality and increased life expectancy, however, these will plateau with time and then population decline will occur. It is believed that the global fertility rate will drop below replacement level in the mid-2050s, although improvements in healthcare and living standards will see population growth continue into the 2080s when the global population will then start falling.

United States - Crude Birth Rate for High Income Countries was 8.98370 Births per 1,000 People in January of 2023, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, United States - Crude Birth Rate for High Income Countries reached a record high of 21.57617 in January of 1960 and a record low of 8.98370 in January of 2023. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for United States - Crude Birth Rate for High Income Countries - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on September of 2025.

United States - Fertility Rate, Total for High Income Countries was 1.43509 Births per Woman in January of 2023, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, United States - Fertility Rate, Total for High Income Countries reached a record high of 3.03648 in January of 1961 and a record low of 1.43509 in January of 2023. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for United States - Fertility Rate, Total for High Income Countries - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on July of 2025.

CN: Population: Birth Rate: Shanxi data was reported at 0.694 % in 2024. This records an increase from the previous number of 0.613 % for 2023. CN: Population: Birth Rate: Shanxi data is updated yearly, averaging 1.132 % from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2024, with 35 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 2.254 % in 1990 and a record low of 0.613 % in 2023. CN: Population: Birth Rate: Shanxi data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Socio-Demographic – Table CN.GA: Population: Birth Rate: By Region.

The fertility rate of a country is the average number of children that women from that country will have throughout their reproductive years. In the United States in 1800, the average woman of childbearing age would have seven children over the course of their lifetime. As factors such as technology, hygiene, medicine and education improved, women were having fewer children than before, reaching just two children per woman in 1940. This changed quite dramatically in the aftermath of the Second World War, rising sharply to over 3.5 children per woman in 1960 (children born between 1946 and 1964 are nowadays known as the 'Baby Boomer' generation, and they make up roughly twenty percent of todays US population). Due to the end of the baby boom and increased access to contraception, fertility reached it's lowest point in the US in 1980, where it was just 1.77. It did however rise to over two children per woman between 1995 and 2010, although it is expected to drop again by 2020, to just 1.78.

United States - Crude Birth Rate for Middle Income Countries was 15.83856 Births per 1,000 People in January of 2023, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, United States - Crude Birth Rate for Middle Income Countries reached a record high of 40.62641 in January of 1963 and a record low of 15.83856 in January of 2023. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for United States - Crude Birth Rate for Middle Income Countries - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on September of 2025.

Mexico MX: Fertility Rate: Total: Births per Woman data was reported at 2.153 Ratio in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 2.184 Ratio for 2016. Mexico MX: Fertility Rate: Total: Births per Woman data is updated yearly, averaging 3.625 Ratio from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 6.831 Ratio in 1969 and a record low of 2.153 Ratio in 2017. Mexico MX: Fertility Rate: Total: Births per Woman data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Mexico – Table MX.World Bank.WDI: Health Statistics. Total fertility rate represents the number of children that would be born to a woman if she were to live to the end of her childbearing years and bear children in accordance with age-specific fertility rates of the specified year.; ; (1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision. (2) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (3) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (4) United Nations Statistical Division. Population and Vital Statistics Reprot (various years), (5) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database, and (6) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme.; Weighted average; Relevance to gender indicator: it can indicate the status of women within households and a woman’s decision about the number and spacing of children.

United States - Adolescent Fertility Rate for High Income Countries was 9.00437 Births per 1,000 Women Ages 15-19 in January of 2023, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, United States - Adolescent Fertility Rate for High Income Countries reached a record high of 44.86580 in January of 1959 and a record low of 9.00437 in January of 2023. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for United States - Adolescent Fertility Rate for High Income Countries - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on September of 2025.

Crude Birth Rate for the United States was 10.70000 Births per 1,000 People in January of 2023, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, Crude Birth Rate for the United States reached a record high of 23.70000 in January of 1960 and a record low of 10.70000 in January of 2023. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Crude Birth Rate for the United States - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on September of 2025.

CN: Population: Birth Rate: Jiangsu data was reported at 0.500 % in 2024. This records an increase from the previous number of 0.481 % for 2023. CN: Population: Birth Rate: Jiangsu data is updated yearly, averaging 0.934 % from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2024, with 35 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 2.054 % in 1990 and a record low of 0.481 % in 2023. CN: Population: Birth Rate: Jiangsu data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Socio-Demographic – Table CN.GA: Population: Birth Rate: By Region.

CN: Population: Birth Rate: Guizhou data was reported at 1.074 % in 2024. This records an increase from the previous number of 1.065 % for 2023. CN: Population: Birth Rate: Guizhou data is updated yearly, averaging 1.397 % from Dec 1990 (Median) to 2024, with 35 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 2.309 % in 1990 and a record low of 1.065 % in 2023. CN: Population: Birth Rate: Guizhou data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under China Premium Database’s Socio-Demographic – Table CN.GA: Population: Birth Rate: By Region.

United States - Crude Birth Rate for Least Developed Countries was 31.37155 Births per 1,000 People in January of 2023, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, United States - Crude Birth Rate for Least Developed Countries reached a record high of 48.27396 in January of 1951 and a record low of 31.08081 in January of 2019. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for United States - Crude Birth Rate for Least Developed Countries - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on September of 2025.