The latest CDC report on the U.S. birth rate reveals a decline in fertility rates, with 2023 seeing just 1.62 births per woman, marking the lowest level since data collection began in the 1930s. Births in the U.S. decreased for over a decade prior to the onset of COVID-19, and then experienced a 4% drop from 2019 to 2020.
Straight Arrow News contributor Peter Zeihan explains the decline in the U.S. birth rate and what it means for America’s future. Zeihan argues that if the low birth rate continues, eventually the U.S. economy could see a decline similar to the declines in the German and Korean economies.
Excerpted from Peter’s May 9 “Zeihan on Geopolitics” newsletter:
Well, it looks like there’s something in the water in the U.S. and it ain’t little blue pills. The recent U.S. Census data shows a 40-year low in the birth rate – about 1.6 per woman.
With the birth rate well below the replacement level, there could be huge economic implications that follow. There are plenty of other countries facing similar demographic issues, so the U.S. has plenty of case studies to read up on.
This isn’t the kiss of death quite yet, but it won’t be [an] easy path forward. Between meaningful immigration reform and policies supporting young families to have more children, the U.S. has to make some big changes if they want to stop that demographic timebomb.