Number of births per year in United States
United States: Number of births per year was 3.66 million in 2023. ▬ Flat
Latest (2023)
3.66 million
Change on year
down 2.5%
World rank
8th
of 236 countries
All-time high
4.38 million
in 1961
All-time low
3.30 million
in 1973
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Number of births per year in United States, 1950–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2023, number of births per year in United States stood at 3.66 million.
That represents a change of down 2.5% on the previous year and down 7.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of births per year in United States peaked at 4.38 million in 1961 and was at its lowest, 3.30 million, in 1973.
That places United States 8th out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
Number of births per year in United States, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 3.70 million | — |
| 1951 | 3.81 million | +3.0% |
| 1952 | 3.90 million | +2.3% |
| 1953 | 3.95 million | +1.4% |
| 1954 | 4.07 million | +2.9% |
| 1955 | 4.09 million | +0.6% |
| 1956 | 4.20 million | +2.7% |
| 1957 | 4.29 million | +1.9% |
| 1958 | 4.35 million | +1.4% |
| 1959 | 4.35 million | +0.1% |
| 1960 | 4.37 million | +0.5% |
| 1961 | 4.38 million | +0.2% |
| 1962 | 4.27 million | -2.5% |
| 1963 | 4.19 million | -1.9% |
| 1964 | 4.13 million | -1.4% |
| 1965 | 3.90 million | -5.6% |
| 1966 | 3.75 million | -3.8% |
| 1967 | 3.65 million | -2.7% |
| 1968 | 3.63 million | -0.4% |
| 1969 | 3.75 million | +3.3% |
| 1970 | 3.89 million | +3.9% |
| 1971 | 3.72 million | -4.5% |
| 1972 | 3.42 million | -8.1% |
| 1973 | 3.30 million | -3.4% |
| 1974 | 3.32 million | +0.6% |
| 1975 | 3.31 million | -0.4% |
| 1976 | 3.34 million | +0.8% |
| 1977 | 3.49 million | +4.6% |
| 1978 | 3.52 million | +0.8% |
| 1979 | 3.65 million | +3.9% |
| 1980 | 3.75 million | +2.5% |
| 1981 | 3.76 million | +0.4% |
| 1982 | 3.81 million | +1.2% |
| 1983 | 3.77 million | -1.0% |
| 1984 | 3.78 million | +0.3% |
| 1985 | 3.84 million | +1.6% |
| 1986 | 3.84 million | -0.2% |
| 1987 | 3.89 million | +1.4% |
| 1988 | 3.98 million | +2.4% |
| 1989 | 4.10 million | +2.8% |
| 1990 | 4.17 million | +1.8% |
| 1991 | 4.11 million | -1.4% |
| 1992 | 4.05 million | -1.6% |
| 1993 | 3.97 million | -2.0% |
| 1994 | 3.91 million | -1.6% |
| 1995 | 3.85 million | -1.6% |
| 1996 | 3.82 million | -0.5% |
| 1997 | 3.81 million | -0.4% |
| 1998 | 3.85 million | +1.1% |
| 1999 | 3.87 million | +0.6% |
| 2000 | 3.96 million | +2.2% |
| 2001 | 3.93 million | -0.7% |
| 2002 | 3.92 million | -0.1% |
| 2003 | 3.98 million | +1.5% |
| 2004 | 4.01 million | +0.8% |
| 2005 | 4.06 million | +1.0% |
| 2006 | 4.18 million | +3.1% |
| 2007 | 4.23 million | +1.3% |
| 2008 | 4.18 million | -1.2% |
| 2009 | 4.09 million | -2.3% |
| 2010 | 3.98 million | -2.7% |
| 2011 | 3.94 million | -0.9% |
| 2012 | 3.94 million | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 3.93 million | -0.3% |
| 2014 | 3.98 million | +1.4% |
| 2015 | 3.98 million | -0.1% |
| 2016 | 3.95 million | -0.7% |
| 2017 | 3.87 million | -2.0% |
| 2018 | 3.82 million | -1.5% |
| 2019 | 3.77 million | -1.1% |
| 2020 | 3.64 million | -3.5% |
| 2021 | 3.68 million | +1.1% |
| 2022 | 3.75 million | +1.9% |
| 2023 | 3.66 million | -2.5% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 3.66 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 21,434, 170.6× the median. (85 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 4.07 million | 3.70 million | 4.35 million | 10 |
| 1960s | 4.00 million | 3.63 million | 4.38 million | 10 |
| 1970s | 3.50 million | 3.30 million | 3.89 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.85 million | 3.75 million | 4.10 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.94 million | 3.81 million | 4.17 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.06 million | 3.92 million | 4.23 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.92 million | 3.77 million | 3.98 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.68 million | 3.64 million | 3.75 million | 4 |
Countries ranked near United States
More population data for United States
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.1369 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -2.8 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.1369 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.0241 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 375,392 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.4762 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate 0.1565 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate 0.129 (2100)
- Population density 46.05 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 19.91 million (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of births per year in United States?
- Number of births per year in United States was 3.66 million in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of births per year recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 4.38 million in 1961.
- What is the lowest number of births per year recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.30 million in 1973.
- How does United States rank for number of births per year?
- United States ranks 8th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is number of births per year rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this United States data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Number of births per year. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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