The number of births per woman in a population is known as the fertility rate. The commonly used terminology which measure fertility is Total fertility rate and birth rate which measures the average number of children borne by each woman. The global fertility rate is 2.3 children per woman today. This rate has been reduced by half in the last 50 years. With modernization and education among the masses, the number of children per woman has decreased. In the pre-modern era, the fertility rate was 4.5 to 7 per woman, which was common. At that time, mortality at a young age kept population growth low. As health services improved and mortality decreased, there was accelerated population growth. This rapid population growth then came to an end as the fertility rate declined and approached 2 children per woman.

Fertility rates in the USA

In 2021, U.S. fertility rates among women aged 15 to 44 had risen to 56.3 births per 1000 women, reversing the downward trend that has persisted since 2014.

As per the reports of the National Centre for Health Statistics, there were 3,664,291 births in 2021, a 1 percent increase from 2020. From 2014 to 2019, the births of new generations decreased by 1 percent every year, with a decline of 4 percent from 2019 to 2020. By state, the number of births increased in 16 states from 2020 to 2021 and declined in New Mexico. The report found that the fertility rate of U.S. women aged 15 to 44 rose to 56.4 births per 1000 women. The total U.S. fertility rate was below replacement in 2021, following the same pattern that it has followed for decades.

The average age of first-time mothers reached a record high of 27.3 years in 2021, with an increase in birth rates among women aged 25 to 44 and record low birth rates in teens. As births increased among white and Hispanic women in 2021, they decreased among black, Asian, and American Indian women.

The report found that babies with low birth weights were also increasing in 2021. According to a large international review, babies born to women who had COVID-19 faced an increased risk of preterm birth and low birth weights.

In recent years, many countries around the world have reported a decline in birth rates, some of which are reaching record lows. This change is evident in different regions and demographic groups and therefore has significant implications for the future of the population and economies.

There have been anxieties among young people about starting families. A recent study shows that there is no need to persuade youngsters to have more children. The number of children that young Americans have had remained unchanged for several decades. The fertility rate in the United States witnessed a lower mark of 1.71 in 2019.

Reasons for the low birth rate

A research suggests that young adults are having difficulty in having kids. Young couples are more worried about their future; they are worried about their economic conditions, child care, and the affordability of having children. There are different factors that contribute to the declining birth rate among couples in the USA. The notable reasons are women's empowerment, increased access to contraceptives, and the increased costs of raising a family. Let's study the reasons that lead to low births worldwide-

Women’s Empowerment

Women nowadays have more choices and control over their lives than before. This is all because of increased access to education for women, which coincides with increased participation by women at the workplace. There has been a steady increase in the number of women with bachelor's degrees; thus, they actively participate in the US workforce. There is increase in women earnings. Educated women can easily pursue a career and earn a sustainable income, but there has been a noticeable shift in women either delaying or forgoing marriage. This delay has caused women to postpone their plans for starting a family later in life, while some do not even like to have children at all. It is important to note that you have to choose a successful career or start a family. It is possible to get pregnant in later years of life, even in your 30s and 40s. Women have become more career-oriented and therefore do not want to bear children soon after marriage.

Increased use of contraceptives

The first commercially produced birth control pill was approved by the FDA in 1960. This was followed by the introduction of contraceptive implants like IUDs in the 1980s. By the year 2018, an estimated 65% of women aged between 15 and 49 were using some type of contraceptive method to prevent pregnancy. This increased use of contraceptives and fertility awareness has allowed individuals and couples to plan pregnancies on their own terms, which in turn has a noticeable impact on couples' decisions to start a family.

Increased costs of raising a family

Another factor behind the declining birth rate in the United States is inflation and the increased costs associated with raising a family. For example, real estate specialists state that since 1960, the average inflation rate for raising a child has increased by $31,000 per year.

Other statistics that lead to a low birth rate are

Parents have spent 1175% more on education and 155% more on healthcare services since 1960. Daycare and nursery rates have increased by 175% since 1990. Because of the above reasons, couples are choosing to delay parenthood until they are financially stable. Those who are not financially stable have refrained from having children. According to the Brookings Institute, 45% of nonparents of childrearing age admitted in a survey that they are unlikely to have children.

Concerns about having low birth rates

The freedom to choose whether or not to start a family is a personal issue, and nobody should be pressured to have kids if they do not want to. But on a global scale, there are some challenges that arise due to low birth rates. Innovations in Healthcare are making people to live longer. The average life expectancy in the U.S. has increased by 9 years since 1968. An ageing population requires increased access to public and private health services, which puts pressure on social security. And with fewer people being born, there is a decrease in the number of individuals who are available to participate in the workforce.

Conclusion: It is evident that the birth rate in developed countries is decreasing due to many reasons. The fertile individuals are also refraining from having kids; instead, they are focusing their lives on building their careers. Many reasons, like the increased costs of raising children and their education, are causing low birth rates.

Reasons For The Decline In The Fertility Rate And Birth Rate In The USA