Births in the United States increased by just 1 percent in 2024, still near the record low rates that have alarmed demographers and become a central part of the Trump administration’s cultural agenda, according to data released on Wednesday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
More than 3.6 million babies were born in the United States last year, a meager rise from the record-setting low in 2023. The fertility rate, approximately 1.6 births per woman over her lifetime, is well below the 2.1 births needed to maintain the country’s population through births alone.
The new data represent “the continuation of a long-term decline of births in the United States that began really with the Great Recession in 2007,” said Ken Johnson, a demographer at the University of New Hampshire.
These numbers, and the reasons that they have experienced such a consistent decline, are widely seen as a problem that could affect the U.S. economy in coming decades, as fewer young workers support a growing aging population.
President Trump has called for a “baby boom,” joining with a conservative “pronatalist” movement that aims to persuade more Americans to get married and have many babies.
Vice President JD Vance and others in the pronatalist movement have criticized childless young Americans, arguing that they are contributing to the potential collapse of the U.S. population because of their disdain for nuclear families and traditional gender roles.
The decrease is due in part to a remarkable shift in who is giving birth: Much of the long-term trend can be attributed to the substantial reductions in teenage pregnancies over the last several decades.
In 1991, the most recent national peak in teen births, 61.8 births occurred per 1,000 15- to 19-year-olds, but that number was down to 12.7 births by 2024, a record low.
Through the 1990s and into the 2000s, the fertility rate in the United States was around two children per woman, roughly at the level needed to maintain the population through births alone, said Karen Benjamin Guzzo, a family demographer at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
About the author
Adenta Building Collapse Linked to Illegal Construction and Ignored Stop-Work Orders
A preliminary investigation into the collapse of a three-storey building at Adenta New Site in the Greater Accra Region has revealed that the project was carried out without the required regulatory approvals and in defiance of official stop-work directives issued by local authorities. The findings were released by a Joint Technical Investigative Committee comprising structural engineering experts and representatives from the Ghana Institution of Engineering (GhIE), the Institution of Engineering and Technology, Ghana (IET-Gh), and the Architecture Registration Council (ARC). According to the committee, the incident highlights serious violations of Ghana’s building regulations and raises concerns about compliance and enforcement within the construction sector. The building collapsed on June 3, 2026, trapping five occupants beneath the debris. The victims included three adults and two children. Rescue teams successfully pulled four individuals from the rubble alive and transported them to the […]
Kpandai Residents Encouraged to Promote Unity and Peace for Sustainable Development
Residents of Kpandai in the Northern Region have been encouraged to put aside tribal, linguistic and political differences and work collectively toward the development of their communities. The call was made by the Parish Priest of St. Kizito Parish, Rev. Fr. Moses Nseaminya, during the launch of the St. Kizito Parish Feast, Partnership and Cultural Day Celebration. The event seeks to promote peace, social cohesion and stronger relationships among the various ethnic groups living within the district. Speaking during the launch, Rev. Fr. Nseaminya emphasized that diversity should be viewed as a strength that can drive development rather than a source of conflict and division. He noted that although residents come from different cultural backgrounds and hold varying political views, they all share a common goal of improving the welfare and future of Kpandai. According to the parish priest, meaningful […]
ECG Explains Power Outages in Greater Accra and Western Regions Following Technical Faults
The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has attributed ongoing power interruptions in parts of the Greater Accra and Western regions to separate technical faults affecting its distribution network. In a statement issued on Monday, June 8, 2026, the power distributor said a technical fault at the Nsawam Primary Station has disrupted electricity supply to several communities within the Accra West operational area. The affected communities include Hebron, Medie, Samsam, Satellite, Koleman and nearby areas, where residents have been experiencing intermittent power outages. According to ECG, engineering teams have been deployed to the station and are actively working to identify and rectify the fault to restore stable electricity supply as quickly as possible. Meanwhile, in the Western Region, a broken high-tension (HT) electricity pole at Ankasa has caused a separate power disruption, affecting multiple towns and communities across the area. Communities […]
Burkina Faso forme 8 000 jeunes VDP agricoles pour renforcer l’autosuffisance alimentaire
La cérémonie officielle de sortie de la 3e cohorte des Volontaires pour la Défense de la Patrie (VDP) agricoles et de fin de formation de 8 000 jeunes en entrepreneuriat agricole s’est tenue le 5 juin 2026 à l’École nationale de formation agricole (ENAFA) de Matourkou. L’initiative s’inscrit dans le cadre de l’Initiative présidentielle pour l’agriculture et l’autosuffisance alimentaire, portée par les autorités burkinabè. Cette formation vise à renforcer les capacités des jeunes dans le secteur agricole tout en les impliquant dans une dynamique de production locale et de souveraineté alimentaire. Une jeunesse formée entre agriculture, civisme et engagement citoyen Le directeur exécutif du Bureau national des grands projets du Burkina Faso, Hamidou Sawadogo, a salué l’engagement des bénéficiaires. Selon lui, le programme traduit la volonté des autorités de transformer durablement le secteur agricole afin de réduire la dépendance alimentaire […]
Clément Zongo dédicace trois ouvrages littéraires à Ouagadougou
Le journaliste-chroniqueur burkinabè Clément Zongo a procédé, le 6 juin 2026 à Ouagadougou, à la dédicace de trois ouvrages intitulés La fille aux cheveux châtains, Les Chroniques de Clément Zongo et Juste un coup de plume. La cérémonie, organisée dans la grande salle du Centre national des arts du spectacle et de l’audiovisuel (CENASA), a réuni des acteurs du monde culturel, des professionnels des médias ainsi que de nombreux passionnés de littérature. De son vrai nom Alexis Yaméogo, Clément Zongo est titulaire d’une maîtrise en sciences et techniques de l’information et de la communication. Conseiller des affaires culturelles, il s’est distingué au fil des années grâce à plusieurs récompenses obtenues dans le domaine littéraire. Un roman consacré à la lutte contre les préjugés liés à l’albinisme Parmi les œuvres présentées figure La fille aux cheveux châtains, un roman qui aborde […]
Three Rescued as Rescue Teams Search for Trapped Victims After North Industrial Area Building Collapse
Rescue teams are continuing efforts to locate and extract individuals believed to be trapped beneath the rubble of a collapsed building in Accra’s North Industrial Area following a structural failure that has left several people injured. According to Alex King Nartey of the Ghana National Fire Service's communications team, three people have so far been rescued from the scene and are currently receiving medical treatment. However, emergency responders fear that at least three more individuals may still be trapped under the debris. Speaking at the site, Mr. Nartey explained that rescue operations have been slowed by the absence of earth-moving equipment needed to remove large sections of collapsed concrete and debris safely. He disclosed that the Fire Service has requested assistance from the military, while the Mayor of Accra has also facilitated the deployment of heavy machinery to support the […]
Related
Israel says it won’t withdraw troops from Lebanon, Syria, Gaza
Israel's Defense Minister Israel Katz has declared that Israeli troops will remain indefinitely in "security zones" in the Gaza Strip, Lebanon and Syria, marking a major policy shift in the country's military approach to border security. Katz emphasized that unlike previous instances, the Israeli military is not retreating from areas that have been cleared and taken, stating that troops will remain in the security zones acting as a buffer between adversaries and Israeli communities "regardless of whether the situation in Gaza is temporary or permanent" – similar to the approach in Lebanon and Syria. The defense minister's announcement comes after Israel unilaterally expanded its frontiers in the war unleashed by Hamas' October 7, 2023 attack, and the military strengthens its control over various occupied regions. Israel says it must maintain control of what it refers to as security zones to […]
US-Iran set to sign peace deal Friday
A major breakthrough in Middle East diplomacy has been achieved as the United States and Iran have reached a peace deal, with the formal signing ceremony scheduled for Friday, June 19, in Switzerland. The agreement, which came after over 100 days of conflict that ignited a worldwide energy crisis and cast a shadow over the global economic landscape, is expected to mark the end of months of military tensions and pave the way for reopening the strategically crucial Strait of Hormuz. Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced that the peace deal will be officially signed in Switzerland on Friday, June 19, with both sides working toward electronic signing preparations. US and Iranian officials confirmed on Sunday that they have agreed on a framework to end months of war, reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and lift the US blockade on Iran. […]
Crude oil prices fall as US-Iran peace deal boosts global markets
Global crude oil prices have plunged after the United States and Iran reportedly reached a landmark peace agreement, easing fears of prolonged conflict in the Middle East and boosting investor confidence across global markets. Brent crude, the primary benchmark for worldwide oil prices, fell 3.4% to $87.30 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude declined 3.2% to $84.88 a barrel. Front-month Brent crude futures had decreased by 4.3%, settling at $86.50 per barrel, while front-month WTI crude futures also dropped by 4.3%, now at $83.76 per barrel. The market reaction follows President Donald Trump's announcement that the U.S. has agreed to a peace deal with Iran, allowing the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and removing oil sanctions on Iran. This development has reduced concerns over oil supply disruptions from the region and eased fears that the conflict would […]
UK to consult on social media ban for children under 16
The UK government has launched a major public consultation on banning social media for children under 16, following Australia's first-ever ban on social media for minors implemented in December 2025. This initiative is part of a broader strategy aimed at safeguarding the wellbeing of young people in the online world. The consultation, which opened on March 2, 2026, will run for three months until May 26, 2026, giving parents, teachers, experts and young people a chance to share their views before any final decision is made. More than 70,000 people in the UK have now had their say in the public consultation over the last three months. Technology Secretary Liz Kendall has said new measures for under-16s will be brought in by the end of 2026, promising that the government won't hang around once the consultation results are in. "We've […]
Iran says draft US deal includes oil sanctions waiver, nuclear limits and asset release
Iran has revealed that a proposed memorandum of understanding with the United States includes a waiver of oil sanctions, limits on Iran's nuclear programme, and the release of billions of dollars in frozen Iranian assets. A senior Iranian source told Reuters on Friday that the draft deal would waive sanctions on Iran's oil exports, unfreeze billions of dollars of its funds, and impose restrictions on Iran's nuclear programme. The agreement also includes a commitment from Iran to never develop nuclear weapons. According to the source, the United States would lift its blockade on Iranian ports and issue targeted sanctions waivers to facilitate unrestricted Iranian oil sales during the negotiation period. The US proposal includes a temporary waiver of oil sanctions effective until a final agreement is reached, rather than Iran's demand for permanent lifting of all sanctions. The draft MOU […]
US and Iran inch closer to deal, but timing remains unclear
The United States and Iran have agreed on the wording of a draft peace deal to end their war, but the exact timing of when the agreement will be finalised remains unclear. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who has been mediating the talks, announced that a final agreed-upon text of the peace deal has been reached between the United States and Iran, with subsequent actions to be determined by mediators. Pakistan, which has taken a proactive role in mediation, is coordinating with the involved nations on the next steps forward. According to three regional officials, the anticipated agreement is expected to facilitate the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, gradually lift sanctions on Iran, and allow the release of Iranian assets that have been frozen. A senior U.S. official revealed that pivotal elements of the emerging agreement involve the removal […]