Overall reproductive rates dropped by approximately 10 percent since 1990 among U.S. women, according to a new study published in the CDC's National Vital Statistics Report.
For the study, researchers examined birth rates recorded from 1990 to 2014. Analysis revealed the birth rate declined from 2,081.0 births per 1,000 women in 1990 to 1,862.5 per 1,000 women in 2014. While the total fertility rate has declined, the rates varied from year to year. The rate dropped 5 percent from 1990 to 1997, rose by 8 percent from 1997 to 2007 and dropped again by 12 percent from 2007 to 2014. Researchers determined the total fertility rate to be below replacement level, or the level of reproduction at which a generation can replace itself.
Reproductive rates provide important indicators for understanding population changes and growth. The study suggests current reproduction rates may indicate a future decline in population.
To read the full study, click here.
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