Story perspectives
U.S. Birth Rates Decline Amid Rising Child-Rearing Costs
4/12/2026
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Story summary
- Dr. Marc Siegel, a senior medical analyst at Fox News, notes 2025 data show 53.1 births per 1,000 women.
- He cites 7 percent decline in births among teens 15 to 19 due to delaying parenthood for financial stability.
- The replacement rate stands at 1.56 children per couple, well below 2.0 threshold for population maintenance.
- Rising costs of raising a child exceed $303,000 through age 18 and contribute to the trend.
