Period total fertility rate in United States
United States: Period total fertility rate was 1.59 in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
1.59
Change on year
down 0.1%
World rank
4th
of 34 countries
All-time high
3.74
in 1957
All-time low
1.59
in 2024
Years of data
92
1933–2024
Period total fertility rate in United States, 1933–2024
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
United States recorded 1.59 for period total fertility rate in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 92 years on record.
That represents a change of down 0.1% on the previous year and down 14.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, period total fertility rate in United States peaked at 3.74 in 1957 and was at its lowest, 1.59, in 2024.
That places United States 4th out of 34 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 92 years of available data.
Period total fertility rate in United States, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1933 | 2.01 | — |
| 1934 | 2.07 | +3.0% |
| 1935 | 2.04 | -1.6% |
| 1936 | 2.01 | -1.5% |
| 1937 | 2.04 | +1.5% |
| 1938 | 2.09 | +2.6% |
| 1939 | 2.05 | -2.0% |
| 1940 | 2.11 | +3.1% |
| 1941 | 2.23 | +5.3% |
| 1942 | 2.46 | +10.7% |
| 1943 | 2.57 | +4.1% |
| 1944 | 2.44 | -4.9% |
| 1945 | 2.38 | -2.4% |
| 1946 | 2.83 | +18.9% |
| 1947 | 3.16 | +11.7% |
| 1948 | 3.01 | -4.8% |
| 1949 | 3.02 | +0.4% |
| 1950 | 3.02 | -0.1% |
| 1951 | 3.2 | +6.1% |
| 1952 | 3.3 | +3.1% |
| 1953 | 3.37 | +2.1% |
| 1954 | 3.49 | +3.6% |
| 1955 | 3.54 | +1.3% |
| 1956 | 3.65 | +3.3% |
| 1957 | 3.74 | +2.3% |
| 1958 | 3.69 | -1.3% |
| 1959 | 3.69 | +0.0% |
| 1960 | 3.67 | -0.6% |
| 1961 | 3.63 | -1.1% |
| 1962 | 3.48 | -4.0% |
| 1963 | 3.35 | -3.6% |
| 1964 | 3.22 | -3.9% |
| 1965 | 2.93 | -9.2% |
| 1966 | 2.71 | -7.2% |
| 1967 | 2.56 | -5.5% |
| 1968 | 2.47 | -3.8% |
| 1969 | 2.46 | -0.4% |
| 1970 | 2.46 | +0.2% |
| 1971 | 2.27 | -7.8% |
| 1972 | 2.01 | -11.5% |
| 1973 | 1.87 | -6.8% |
| 1974 | 1.83 | -2.4% |
| 1975 | 1.77 | -3.2% |
| 1976 | 1.74 | -1.7% |
| 1977 | 1.78 | +2.5% |
| 1978 | 1.75 | -2.0% |
| 1979 | 1.79 | +2.7% |
| 1980 | 1.82 | +1.4% |
| 1981 | 1.81 | -0.8% |
| 1982 | 1.81 | +0.5% |
| 1983 | 1.78 | -1.7% |
| 1984 | 1.79 | +0.5% |
| 1985 | 1.83 | +2.3% |
| 1986 | 1.83 | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 1.86 | +1.6% |
| 1988 | 1.92 | +3.1% |
| 1989 | 2 | +4.0% |
| 1990 | 2.07 | +3.5% |
| 1991 | 2.06 | -0.6% |
| 1992 | 2.04 | -0.7% |
| 1993 | 2.02 | -1.2% |
| 1994 | 2 | -0.8% |
| 1995 | 1.98 | -1.0% |
| 1996 | 1.98 | -0.1% |
| 1997 | 1.97 | -0.3% |
| 1998 | 2 | +1.5% |
| 1999 | 2.01 | +0.3% |
| 2000 | 2.05 | +2.2% |
| 2001 | 2.03 | -1.1% |
| 2002 | 2.02 | -0.3% |
| 2003 | 2.05 | +1.4% |
| 2004 | 2.06 | +0.2% |
| 2005 | 2.06 | +0.1% |
| 2006 | 2.11 | +2.5% |
| 2007 | 2.12 | +0.5% |
| 2008 | 2.07 | -2.3% |
| 2009 | 2 | -3.5% |
| 2010 | 1.92 | -3.9% |
| 2011 | 1.89 | -1.9% |
| 2012 | 1.87 | -0.8% |
| 2013 | 1.85 | -1.3% |
| 2014 | 1.86 | +0.6% |
| 2015 | 1.84 | -1.0% |
| 2016 | 1.81 | -1.6% |
| 2017 | 1.76 | -2.9% |
| 2018 | 1.72 | -2.1% |
| 2019 | 1.7 | -1.5% |
| 2020 | 1.63 | -3.7% |
| 2021 | 1.65 | +1.2% |
| 2022 | 1.64 | -0.6% |
| 2023 | 1.59 | -2.9% |
| 2024 | 1.59 | -0.1% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 1.59 is above the median for high income countries, which is 1.47, 1.1× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1930s | 2.04 | 2.01 | 2.09 | 7 |
| 1940s | 2.62 | 2.11 | 3.16 | 10 |
| 1950s | 3.47 | 3.02 | 3.74 | 10 |
| 1960s | 3.05 | 2.46 | 3.67 | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.93 | 1.74 | 2.46 | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.85 | 1.78 | 2 | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.01 | 1.97 | 2.07 | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.06 | 2 | 2.12 | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.82 | 1.7 | 1.92 | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.62 | 1.59 | 1.65 | 5 |
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 period total fertility rate in United States?
- Period total fertility rate in United States was 1.59 in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest period total fertility rate recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 3.74 in 1957.
- What is the lowest period total fertility rate recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.59 in 2024.
- How does United States rank for period total fertility rate?
- United States ranks 4th out of 34 countries with data for 2024.
- Is period total fertility rate rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is down 14.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United States data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Period total fertility rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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