According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the birth rate continued to slide in 2023. Provisional statistics reveal a little under 3.6 million babies were born last year, which is about 76,000 fewer than the year before and the lowest one-year tally since 1979.
Steve Mosher of the Population Research Institute says for the most part, birth rates have been on the decline for years, and there are several reasons for that. One is because many people are having trouble finding stable, full-time employment.
"Housing prices are at historic highs," he adds. "It may be the case that few young couples now will ever be able to afford to buy a home unless we increase in the number of homes being built or [see] a decline in the price of those homes. Without a home, without job security, young couples are reluctant to get married – and even more reluctant to have children."
"I would finally mention the vaccine," Mosher continues. "A lot of young women have been vaccinated, and there may be a long-term effect on fertility of taking the COVID vaccine."
"We're not sure if the trend is coming from what happened during COVID," adds Laura Echevarria of the National Right to Life Committee. "Sadly, I do think it could possibly be a response in part to the Dobbs ruling and the fearmongering that the pro-abortion side has engaged in since the Dobbs decision came down in June of 2022."
Meanwhile, religion is also in decline, meaning fewer people believe the biblical view of children as a blessing.
Regardless of the reason, Echevarria calls it a troubling trend, as the lower birth rate will have negative ramifications on the country.
"When we have a decrease in the birth rate, you also look at schools being shuttered; there's no need for teachers," she warns. "There are a lot of impacts along the way when you have a loss in a certain area. With the population decline, it certainly will have an impact in certain jobs. All of that is impacted along the way."
The birth rate has dropped to 1.6 children per child-bearing age, while 2.1 are needed to replace the current population. So if the trend continues, there will not be enough people in the future to fill jobs that keep many industries providing for the rest of the population.
Echevarria submits the best way to get ahead of this is for people to get married, be fruitful, and multiply, disregarding the cultural factors against having children.
