CDC reports that birthrates and abortions declined in 2018

WASHINGTON — Rates of births and abortions in the U.S. again declined in the most recent years for which data is available as women experience fewer pregnancies, according to analyses released Wednesday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The birthrate reached its lowest point in more than three decades, with 3,791,712 births registered in 2018. That total is 2% lower than the number reported in 2017, marking the fourth year in a row that births have declined.

The CDC received reports of 623,471 abortions in 2016, down 2% from the prior year. The figure represents the lowest number of abortions reported since the Supreme Court decided Roe v. Wade in 1973, as well as the lowest rate.

Decreases in births and abortions over the past several years have been linked to fewer millennials having children than previous generations and a decline in teenage pregnancy, which fell 7% last year to 17.4 births per 1,000 people.

Birthrates have been trending downward since 2005, sparking concern about potential ramifications. Keeping the number of births within a certain range, called the “replacement level,” ensures that the population level will remain stable.

A low birthrate runs the risk that the country will not be able to replace the workforce and have enough tax revenue, while a high birthrate can cause shortages of resources.

The fertility rate in 2018 was 1,729.5 births per 1,000 women, which is below the replacement level of about 2,100 births. The country’s fertility rate has mostly been below replacement since 1971.