U.S. birth rate drops to record low, ending pandemic uptick

The pace of babies born each year in the U.S. has slowed to a new record low, according to an analysis of 2023 birth certificate data published Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

Last year's slowdown marks an official end to the uptick in new babies that began during the COVID-19 pandemic. At least 3,591,328 babies were born in the U.S. in 2023, down 2% from the 3,667,758 born in 2022. 

This is on par with annual declines seen before the pandemic, the report said, which averaged around 2% fewer babies each year.