What’s Behind The Low Birth Rate in The U.S.?
2020 turned the world upside-down.
Besides a global pandemic that ravaged our economies and left four million dead worldwide, this year also marked the lowest birth rate in the U.S. in nearly 50 years.
However, the pandemic is not the only explanation for this record low. It's part of a more significant tendency in family size in the U.S.
To understand why the birth rate in the U.S. is declining, let's go through some key statistics and reasons why families have fewer kids.
What Do The Numbers Say About The Birth Rate in The U.S.?
(Source: Econofact)
The total birth rate, the number of live births per 1,000 population in a year, in the U.S. has been steadily falling in recent decades.
For example, the U.S. birth rate in 2021 was 11 births per 1000 people. In the '80s, the same rate was around 15.
Historically, birth rates fluctuated overtime during an economic recession but picked up afterward.
However, what's been happening is a long-term decline.
The low birth rate in 2020 was not only the lowest since 1971, but it's also a continuation of a trend that started in early 2007 after the global financial crisis.
Similarly to birth rates, the general fertility rate (GFT) is another indicator that measures the number of births per 1,000 women considered to be of the childbearing age group - between 15 to 44.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2021, this number stood at 56.3.
In 1990, there were about 70.77 births per 1,000 women each year.
Another fertility measure, the total fertility rate (TFR), is the estimated average number of children per woman that would be born throughout her reproductive years.
Statistics report shows a declining trend in the last decades - from 3.58 in the 60's down to 1.78 kids per woman in 2020. The drop is consistent among different demographic groups.
The United States is currently experiencing a historic low in fertility. The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated this decline, but it's not the main reason for the drop.
The downward spiral has been happening for years since the start of government statistics on population growth in the 1930s.
The current rate is below the replacement level of about 2.1 to keep the population constant.
Though the birth rate rose 1% in 2021, for the first time after seven years, it's still too early to predict this as a sign of a rebound to previous fertility rates in the United States.
So we have to wait for additional data at the end of 2022 to see if this is a one-time event or part of a more significant trend.
Why Don't Families Have More Babies?
The reasons are endless. First, women marry and become mothers later in life. In 2010, the average age of mothers was 23. Just ten years later, in 2020, the average is 27.
At the same time, society isn't helping matters. According to 85% of mothers, their community does not understand or support their needs. The same applies to their partners.
Only 36% of women say their partners share child-rearing responsibilities equally.
The lack of support for parents comes in several shapes and sizes. Common challenges to raising a family include:
Rising living costs
Rising costs of education and healthcare
Long working hours and inflexible schedules
Workplace penalties and pregnancy discrimination
No legislated parental leave
No free universal pre-K
Little government financial support
Women still primary providers of childcare and domestic responsibilities
Difficult re-entry into the job market
Women are paid less than men
As social media strategist Sara Lang Gifford tweeted:
"I feel like anyone bemoaning the declining birth rate in the U.S. doesn't understand that between student loans, childcare, and a mortgage (if you're lucky), many families are paying basically three mortgages every single month."
What About The Rest of The World?
(Source: Our World inData)
The low birth rate in the U.S. is part of a global trend, and experts say we'll experience a population peak in 2064.
Almost everywhere, more families have fewer kids.
Yet, Sub-Saharan Africa is the only region with predicted population growth this century.
However, raising a family in the U.S. is uniquely challenging.
The costs of education and healthcare are sky-high compared to other developed countries.
A 2018 study by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) found that the U.S. had the second-highest childcare costs as a share of family income.
Furthermore, the U.S. ranks last for paid parental leave, though some states have it.
At the same time, there's no universal pre-K and minimal government support for families.
In addition, the U.S. has notoriously long working hours and discriminates against pregnant women.
Even before we mentioned, women struggle to balance work with childcare duties, get paid as much as men, and reenter the job market after maternity leave.
As a result, many families in the U.S. feel entirely on their own. So it's no wonder they're choosing to have fewer kids.
Boost The Birth Rate in The U.S. With Support
Fortunately, other countries are taking the lead on how to support families.
For example, Nordic countries are famous for extended parental leave and family support programs.
Germany also has passed new legislation to have universal daycare starting on the child's first birthday.
Ultimately, the U.S. needs to catch up in creating family-friend policies and support systems.
As more families pressure legislators, we hope that parental leave, universal childcare, and more will soon be family rights in America.
Families everywhere deserve more support. After all, raising a child is hard enough as it is.
