If your Instagram feed makes it seem like everyone is having babies later in life, it’s not just the algorithm—it’s reality. According to a brand new report from the CDC’s National Vital Statistics System, births among women in their 40s have more than tripled since 1990, while the teen birth rate has plummeted to a historic low.
Let’s break it down.
Fewer teens are becoming parents than ever before
In 1990, teens accounted for a whopping 12.8% of all U.S. births. By 2023? Just 4%. That’s a 73% drop in the number of births to teen moms. In fact, the birth rate among teens ages 15–19 fell 78% over the same period—from 59.9 to just 13.1 births per 1,000 females.
Yes, this is a huge win for teen health, education, and economic futures. Experts point to a mix of better sex ed, access to contraception, and a generational shift toward delaying big life milestones. Cue Gen Z saying “not right now, thanks” to diapers and daycare.
Meanwhile, birth rates for women over 40 are soaring
And now for the flip side: Women in their 40s are giving birth more than ever. The birth rate for women ages 40–44 jumped 127% since 1990, and for those 45 and older, it increased by a jaw-dropping 450% (yes, really). In 2023, women 40 and up accounted for 4.1% of all births, up from just 1.2% in 1990.
Behind these numbers are real-life moms who may be pursuing advanced degrees, waiting for financial stability, or—let’s be honest—just taking a beat before jumping into motherhood. The rise of assisted reproductive technology also plays a role in making later-life pregnancies more possible than ever.
Related: ‘Geriatric pregnancy’ is an outdated + sexist label—and we’ve had enough
The average age of motherhood is shifting
In 1990, 7 in 10 births were to women under 30. Today, it’s just under 1 in 2. Women over 30 now account for more than half of all U.S. births, with the biggest increases in the 35–39 and 40+ age brackets.
American family life looks different than ever before, and it’s time for policymakers (and our culture) to catch up.
What this means for moms—and policy
While this trend might reflect more autonomy and choice for some women, it’s also deeply shaped by the lack of support for young families. Without paid maternity leave, affordable childcare, or flexible work policies, many women delay motherhood because they can’t afford not to.
So yes, it’s amazing that more women are choosing when and how to become mothers. But it’s also time for our systems to catch up—to support moms at any age.
Related: My last pregnancy at 39 was so different from my first at 30