NCHS Data Briefs

NCHS Data Brief, No. 259 - Continued Declines in Teen Births in the United States, 2015

This report presents the recent and long-term trends and disparity in teen childbearing by race and Hispanic origin. The birth rate for teenagers aged 15–19 has fallen almost continuously since 1991, reaching historic lows for the nation every year since 2009 (1–4). Despite declines in all racial and ethnic groups, teen birth rates continue to vary considerably by race and ethnicity. Moreover, the U.S. teen birth rate remains higher than in other industrialized countries (5). Childbearing by teenagers continues to be a matter of public concern.