NCHS Data Briefs

Birth rates for teenagers declined across urban and rural counties from 2007 through 2015, with the largest declines in large urban counties.

From 2007 through 2015, teen birth rates fell 50% in large urban counties, from 38.1 births per 1,000 females aged 15–19 to 18.9 (Figure 1). Teen birth rates were lowest in large urban counties, with the rates in these counties lower than the overall rate for the United States.

Teen birth rates for medium and small urban counties fell 44% from 2007 through 2015, to 24.3 births per 1,000 from 43.1. From 2007 through 2015, the rates in these counties were nearly the same as the U.S. teen birth rate.

From 2007 through 2015, the rate in rural counties fell 37%, to 30.9 births per 1,000 from 49.1. Teen birth rates were highest in rural counties, with the rates in these counties greater than the national rate.