Births in the United States, 2023
Level 4 - case-series / case-control
Cross-sectional vital statistics registry surveillance (graded by design analogy)
OpenAlex W4400861295 · doi:10.15620/cdc/158789
What was done
Descriptive analysis of vital statistics from all 3,596,017 registered birth certificates in the United States for 2023, comparing national birth totals, general fertility rates, teen birth rates, timing of prenatal care initiation, and gestational age distributions with data from 2022 and 2021.
What was found
A total of 3,596,017 births were registered in the United States in 2023, down 2% from 2022. The general fertility rate declined 3% to 54.5 births per 1,000 females ages 15-44. Birth rates declined for females ages 15-19 (4%), 15-17 (2%), and 18-19 (5%). Mothers receiving prenatal care in the first trimester declined 1% to 76.1%, while mothers with no prenatal care increased 5%. Preterm birth rates were essentially unchanged at 10.41%, while early term births rose 2%.
Why it matters
Provides official population-level vital statistics on US births in 2023, documenting ongoing declines in fertility and teen birth rates along with small shifts in prenatal care timing.
Limits
Descriptive registry data without causal analysis or multivariable adjustment. The abstract does not provide subgroup breakdowns by maternal race, ethnicity, or state, nor reasons for the observed trends.
Cited by
- supports Since 2007, the general fertility rate in the United States has fallen by 23%.