Live Births and Birth Rates, by Year

The following table shows the number of live births and the birth rate in the United States between 1910 and 2005.

Year	Births¹	Rate²
1910	2,777,000	30.1
1915	2,965,000	29.5
1920	2,950,000	27.7
1925	2,909,000	25.1
1930	2,618,000	21.3
1935	2,377,000	18.7
1940	2,559,000	19.4
1945	2,858,000	20.4
1950	3,632,000	24.1
1952³	3,913,000	25.1
1953³	3,965,000	25.1
1954³	4,078,000	25.3
1955	4,104,000	25.0
1956³	4,218,000	25.2
1957³	4,308,000	25.3
1958³	4,255,000	24.5
1959³	4,295,000	24.3
1960³	4,257,850	23.7
1961³	4,268,326	23.3
1962³	4,167,362	22.4
1963³	4,098,020	21.7
1964³	4,027,490	21.0
1965³	3,760,358	19.4
1966³	3,606,274	18.4
1967⁴	3,520,959	17.8
1968³	3,501,564	17.5
1969³	3,600,206	17.8
1970³	3,731,386	18.4
1971³	3,555,970	17.2
1972	3,258,411	15.6
1973	3,136,965	14.9
1974	3,159,958	14.9
1975	3,144,198	14.8
1976	3,167,788	14.8
1977	3,326,632	15.4
1978	3,333,279	15.3
1979	3,494,398	15.9
1980	3,612,258	15.9
1982	3,680,537	15.9
1983	3,638,933	15.5
1984	3,669,141	15.5
1985	3,760,561	15.8
1986	3,731,000	15.5
1987	3,829,000	15.7
1988	3,913,000	15.9
1989	4,021,000	16.2
1990	4,179,000	16.7
1991	4,111,000	16.2
1992	4,084,000	16.0
1993	4,039,000	15.7
1994	3,979,000	15.3
1995	3,892,000	14.8
1996	3,899,000	14.7
1997	3,882,000	14.5
1998	3,941,553	14.6
1999	3,959,417	14.5
2000	4,058,814	14.7
2001	4,025,933	14.1
2002	4,021,726	13.9
2003	4,089,950	14.1
2004	4,112,052	14.0
2005	4,138,349	14.0
2009	4,131,019	13.8

1. Figures through 1959 include adjustment for under-registration; beginning 1960, figures represent number registered. For comparison, the 1959 registered count was 4,245,000.

2. Rates are per 1,000 population estimated as of July 1 for each year except 1940, 1950, 1960, 1970, and 1980, which are as of April 1, the census date; for 1942–46 based on population including armed forces overseas.

3. Based on 50% sample of births.

4. Based on a 20 to 50% sample of births.

NOTE: Alaska is included beginning 1959; Hawaii beginning 1960. Since 1972, based on 100% of births in selected states and on 50% sample in all other states.

Sources: Department of Health and Human Services, National Center for Health Statistics, web: www.dhhs.gov .

Gestational Age and Birthweight Characteristics by Plurality: United States, 2002

Births

Live Births and Birth Rates, 1910–2004