U.S. Fertility Rates Fell During 1992, Even Among Teenagers, Women over 30

In the US during the years 1991 and 1992 fertility continued to decline by 1% from 4111000 to 4065000 births. The birth rate declined from 16.3 births per 1000 population to 15.9 per 1000. The fertility rate among women 15-44 years old declined from 69.6 per 1000 women to 68.9 per 1000. Provisional data for 1993 showed continued decline by 1%. The 1992 total fertility rate was 2.07 lifetime births per woman. Adolescent fertility among women 15-17 years old declined for the first time in 1992 from 38.7 live births per 1000 15-17 year olds in 1991 to 37.8 live births per 1000 in 1992. Fertility rates remained stable among women under 15 years old and 18-19 years old. The steady increase in births among women older than 30 years appears to have stabilized for 1991 and 1992. Births rose only 1% during 1991-92 among women 30-34 years old. Fertility among women 35-39 years old rose by 2%. Fertility among women in their 20s remained stable and with a slight decline of 1% during 1991-92. Fertility among women in their 40s rose by 7% during 1991-92 and at about 58000 births was the highest since 1968. Black women had 2% lower fertility during 1991-92: 1% among married Black women and 3% among unmarried Black women. Hispanic fertility was higher than fertility among nonHispanic White women and nonHispanic Black women: 109 births per 1000 compared to 60 per 1000 and 86 per 1000 respectively. Mexican American women had the highest birth rates: 116 births per 1000 which was a 5% decline from 1991. Puerto Rican birth rates were 90 births per 1000 which was an 11% increase from 1991. Nonmarital births increased by 1% during 1991-92 to 1225000 or 30% of all births. The nonmarital fertility rate remained unchanged at 45 births per 1000 unmarried women 15-44 years old which represented the first time the rate had not increased since the early 1980s. Nonmarital fertility for White women rose by 2% to 35 births per 1000; Black nonmarital fertility declined by 3% to 87 per 1000. The gap between nonmarital fertility of Black and White women has been closing since 1980. Peak nonmarital fertility occurred among the age groups 18-19 years 20-24 years and 35-39 years. 78% of births were to women with prenatal care. 17% of women were smokers during pregnancy a 5% decline. 22% of births were cesareans a 2% decline.