Teen Birthrate Hit Historic Low in 2009

The teen birthrate in the United States hit a historic low in 2009, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and rates have fallen significantly over the past two decades for all racial groups. The overall rate for teens aged 15-19 dropped 37 percent between 1991 and 2009. African-American teens saw the biggest drop: Younger non-Hispanic black teens aged 15 to 17 gave birth at a rate of 86.1 per 1,000 in 1991, but 32.1 in 2009. 18-to-19-year-old African-American women saw their birth rate decrease from 162.2 in 1991 to 97.5 in 2009. The CDC reports that the risks of teen childbearing include a greater likelihood of preterm birth, a greater risk of babies dying during infancy, and an annual estimated cost to the public of $9.1 billion.