Psychology Today | 18.06.2026 23:29
Eighteen years ago, the average fertility rate in the United States was 2.08; today, according to statistics recently released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the average fertility rate is now about 1.5. The so-called “replacement rate,” where couples replace themselves in society, is 2.10, meaning that couples should have at least two children to maintain a stable population (the number reflects a correction for childhood mortality). Currently, all the states, with the exception of South Dakota, have below-replacement levels; states in the Northeast have exceptionally low fertility rates that range from 1.2 to 1.4. Fifty years ago, parenthood was almost an obligation. Things have changed dramatically.
