CONTRACEPTION & FAMILY PLANNING | Economic Recession Cited as Reason for 2008 Drop in U.S. Birth Rate
[Aug. 7, 2009]

U.S. birth rates in 2008 decreased by nearly 2% for the first time since 2000, and some experts cite the economic recession as the reason behind the drop, the New York Times reports. The 2008 drop took place one year after the number of births broke a 50-year record high in 2007. According to new preliminary data released last week by the National Center for Health Statistics at Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there were 4,247,000 recorded births in 2008, down by 68,000 from the previous year. At the state level, birth rates dropped in all but 10 states. Researchers noted that most of these 10 states were located in the Northern region, where the impact of the recession was not as strong as in the other states.

Experts and economic observers cited the declining economy, which began toward the end of 2007, for the drop. Andrew Hacker, a sociologist at Queens College of the City University of New York, said, "It's the recession," adding, "Children are the most expensive item in every family's budget." Stephanie Coontz -- a professor at Evergreen State College and research director for the Council on Contemporary Families -- agreed. "We have sometimes seen women decide to have a baby if they get laid off, that decision is usually only made if the husband is working and his job seems secure," she said, adding, "More than 80% of the job losses in this recession have been borne by men. There are a lot of families where a maternity leave would mean that no income at all was coming in."

Early data for 2009 appear to confirm that the birth rate decline is linked to the recession, the Times reports, noting that families are reconsidering having children as more of them feel the effects of unemployment and economic uncertainty. Stephanie Ventura, chief of the reproductive statistics branch at NCHS, said, "We've had these bumps and drops in the past, but 2009 will be critical" (Roberts, New York Times, 8/6).





The information contained in this publication reflects media coverage of women’s health issues and does not necessarily reflect the views of the National Partnership for Women & Families.

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