Women in Their 20s May Not Be Having Babies, but by 45 Most Probably Will
The New York Times • • nation
Key Points:
- Fertility rates in the United States have been declining since the Great Recession, reaching a new low last year according to federal data.
- Despite concerns about a potential "baby bust," demographers suggest this trend may represent a temporary lull rather than a permanent decline.
- The shift is largely due to American women delaying childbirth, with fewer having children in their teens or 20s and more having them in their 30s or 40s.
- This pattern, known as a "postponement transition," has occurred before in Europe in the 1990s and in the U.S. during the 1970s, often followed by a rebound in fertility as women eventually have children.
- Historically, such delays have not resulted in fewer children overall, but rather a shift in timing, influenced by factors like increased education and career pursuits.
