The U.S. fertility rate has fallen ~23% since 2007, hitting a record low in 2025. Fewer births mean smaller kindergarten enrollment, which contributes to school closures.
2024
Fertility Rate by State
How many kids each woman has. The U.S. average is ~1.6. It takes ~2.1 kids per woman to keep a population steady.
Kids per woman
2
1.8 to 1.9
1.7
1.6
1.5
1.4 or less
Highest
~2
South Dakota
Lowest
~1.25
Vermont
Estimated from each state's 2024 birth rate.
Source: CDC, National Center for Health Statistics
