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This publication reports trends in teen childbearing in the Nation, in each state, and in large cities using data from the 2000 National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). Rates of teenage childbearing steadily declined during the 1990s, reaching a record low in 2000. Rates declined for both younger and older teens and for blacks, whites, and Hispanics in all states and in the District of Columbia. Declines in teen birth rates are not due to an increase in abortions but rather resulted from a lower proportion of teens having sex and a greater use of contraception. NCHS data showed that the teen marital birth rate declined by 26% between 1990 and 1999. International Teen Birth Rate data point to the fact that the United States has the highest teen pregnancy rates among developed countries with pregnancy information available. Tables 1, 2, and 3 list statistics for each state for number of births; age of mother; births to whites, blacks, and Hispanics; and existence of coordinated pregnancy prevention policy in public schools. (JDM)

This fact sheet presents several data tables related to teen pregnancy, birth rates, abortion, contraceptive use, and sexually transmitted diseases. The data reveal that during the 1990s, rates of teen childbearing have declined, returning to the levels reached in the mid-1980s. Declines come from a lower proportion of teens having sex and a greater use of contraception, rather than from increased abortions. The decline in the teen birth rate has been largest among younger teens, black teens, and teens who have already had a baby. Specifically, data indicate that since 1991 the birth rate has declined 21 percent among adolescents ages 15-17, compared to 13 percent among older teens ages 18-19. Also, the birth rate per 1,000 females ages 15-19 has declined 26 percent among blacks, compared with 19 percent among non-Hispanic whites and 12 percent among Hispanics. The rate of second births has declined 21 percent among teens who have already had a baby, compared with 10 percent among childless teens. The rate has declined 21 percent among married teens, compared with 6 percent among unmarried teens. Nevertheless, rates among married teens and among teens who have had a first birth are much higher than among other teens. Variation across the states continues to be enormous. Although rates have declined in all states, four still have rates of 70 births or higher per 1,000 females aged 15-19: Arizona, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Texas. (EV)

This publication reports trends in teen childbearing in the nation, in each state, and in large cities using data from the 2001 National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). Rates of teenage childbearing continue to steadily decline, and the 2001 rates are historic lows for each age group. NCHS data showed that almost 80% of teen births nationwide occur outside of marriage, and that about one in five teen births are repeat teen births. Although declines occurred in all race/ethnicity groups in the 1990s, racial/ethnic differences in teen birth rates remain substantial. Teen birth rates continue to be much higher among Hispanic and African American youth than among non-Hispanic white youth. Tables 1, 2, and 3 list teen birth statistics for each state and selected large cities. (GCP)

Despite a sharp and continuing decline in the rate of teen childbearing and a leveling off in the rate of nonmarital childbearing, the U.S. teen childbearing rate remains high compared with other industrialized nations, while nonmarital childbearing rates are in the mid-range of industrialized countries (Doyle 2002). Both teen and nonmarital childbearing are associated with negative outcomes for mother and child (Maynard 1996; DHHS 1995; Seltzer 2000). These forms of childbearing also bring with them substantial costs to society; the cost of the welfare system is a source of particular concern (Maynard 1996; Moore and Wertheimer 1984). Childbearing by young and unmarried women continues to concern health practitioners, educators, the media, and the public. Indeed, the federal welfare law includes provisions to offer states incentives to discourage teen and nonmarital childbearing. While the period of decline in teen childbearing and the leveling off in nonmarital childbearing rates has coincided with the implementation of welfare waivers and a reformed welfare system, many other factors beside welfare rules may have played a role. They include the following:The vigorous economic expansion, which drew to a close in 2000;The expansion of the Earned Income Tax Credit;An emerging consensus that mothers with nonmarital births should work to help support their child;Increased use of new methods of contraception, especially Depo-Provera and Norplant(R);Increased education about HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases;A focus on males as well as females for policies affecting reproductive behavior;Increased focus on child support enforcement; andA rise in conservative attitudes toward premarital sex.Child Trends conducted a survey in 2001 of all 50 states to learn how specific state policies and programs to discourage teen and nonmarital childbearing have changed since the 1999 and 1997 surveys. We summarize our findings after we review the trends in teen and nonmarital