CDC provisional data shows drop in US births in 2025

By: Bridget Sielicki, originally published February 15, 2026, LiveAction.org

Newly released provisional data from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) show that there were approximately 24,000 fewer births in the United States in 2025 than in 2024 — a downward trend consistent with declines in birth rates seen worldwide.

Key Takeaways:

• Provisional numbers from the CDC indicate fewer births in 2025 than in 2024.
• The data is not finalized, but is not estimated to change more than “a few thousand additional births.”
• Data on the nation’s birth rate have not yet been released.
• A decline in the number of births has long-term ramifications on the nation’s economy and well-being.

The Details:

The Associated Press reports that the CDC released its provisional data showing a drop in the US birth rate in late January.

According to the CDC’s estimations, 3.6 million births were recorded in 2025, about 24,000 fewer than in 2024.

Robert Anderson, a statistician who oversees birth and death tracking at the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics, said that though data are still being compiled, the final result will likely only amount to “a few thousand additional births.”

The CDC’s calculations do not yet include any data on fertility rates for the year. A rate of 2.1 children per woman is considered the replacement rate, though the United States has been well below that number for years.

Karen Guzzo, a family demographer at the University of North Carolina, told the Associated Press that the decrease in the number of births correlates with people worrying about the state of the economy.

“I wouldn’t expect birth or fertility rates to have risen; I would expect them to fall because childbearing is highly related to economic conditions and uncertainty,” she said.

The Big Picture:

The CDC’s data follows a January report from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) predicting that the nation’s death rate will be higher than the birth rate by 2030.

Experts say that these numbers will have a drastic impact on the nation’s economic outlook.

As Nadège Ngomsi, economist at IMPLAN, told Newsweek:

“An economy requires a steady stream of people who work, spend money, and replace those who retire. When the birth rate falls and immigration slows, this necessary talent supply dries up, leaving businesses without enough workers to build homes or staff critical services. Without a growing workforce to buy goods and support the tax base, infrastructure begins to crumble, and the entire economy slows down.”

The U.S. is far from alone in this demographic crisis. Nations across the globe are currently dealing with fewer births and a population that is aging faster than its replacement rate.

The Bottom Line:

Promoting marriage and family life is more important than ever. A society can’t thrive unless it welcomes children and implements policies that promote the family.

Bridget Sielicki is a pro-life writer and editor with over 15 years of professional experience, many of which have been spent covering issues like abortion and euthanasia. She is committed to defending the preborn, protecting the vulnerable, and advancing a culture of life.