U.S. Birth Rate Experiences Biggest Drop in 30 Years, Government Report Says

According to government data, the U.S. birth rate has experienced its biggest drop in thirty years, the Los Angeles Times reported.Births decreased by 4 percent from 2007 to 2009, which is the biggest drop for any two-year period since the 1970s.

While the rate – 66.7 births per 1,000 women aged 5 to 44 – hasn’t yet hit the all-time low of 63.6, the authors of the report say that numbers have continued to fall through the first half of 2010.

Among other data, the report found that (quoted from the LA Times):

Birth rates fell for all women except those 40 and older.

The birth rate for women ages 20 to 24 was the lowest ever recorded for that age group: 96.3 per 1,000. That’s a 9% drop from 2007 to 2009.

Among ethnic groups, the biggest drop was seen in Latino women, a 9% decline.

Birth rates fell the most in the West and Southwest. Arizona and Nevada saw a decline of 10% or more.

Fewer families are having more than two children. Almost 75% of births in 2009 were first or second births.

The report was released by the National Center for Health Statistics.

Click here to read more from the LA Times.