Birth Tourism Usa Statistics

GITNUXREPORT 2026

Birth Tourism Usa Statistics

There is no U.S. government count that tracks how many visitors come specifically for birth tourism, so this page pieces together the closest signals from CDC, DHS, State, and USCIS. It contrasts the scale of all births and visa and border activity with payer breakdowns and health outcomes, including 32.0% cesarean delivery and 5.4 infant deaths per 1,000 live births, to show how easily “birth tourism” can be inferred only indirectly.

48 statistics29 sources4 sections8 min readUpdated today

Key Statistics

Statistic 1

No authoritative, nationwide U.S. government dataset quantifies the number of people who enter the United States specifically for birth tourism purposes.

Statistic 2

In 2022, the CDC reports the general fertility rate in the U.S. was 55.8 births per 1,000 women aged 15–44 (all births, general population).

Statistic 3

In 2021, the general fertility rate in the U.S. was 56.1 births per 1,000 women aged 15–44 (all births).

Statistic 4

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security reports that in Fiscal Year 2023, U.S. Customs and Border Protection had 2,506,669 total encounters at the southwest border (all encounter categories).

Statistic 5

The U.S. Department of State publishes nonimmigrant visa statistics; in FY 2023, the U.S. issued 9,267,000 nonimmigrant visas (all categories).

Statistic 6

The U.S. Department of State publishes immigrant visa statistics; in FY 2023, the U.S. issued 548,000 immigrant visas (all categories).

Statistic 7

In FY 2023, USCIS reported 7,127,000 total case receipts across all case types (aggregate USCIS operational data).

Statistic 8

In 2023, USCIS reported a total of 7,741,000 total case processing completions (aggregate operational data).

Statistic 9

The CDC fastats table reports that 7.7% of births in 2022 were to women with Medicaid as the payer (distribution by payer).

Statistic 10

The CDC fastats table reports that 30.7% of births in 2022 were financed by private insurance (distribution by payer).

Statistic 11

The CDC fastats table reports that 59.6% of births in 2022 had insurance coverage category not specified in a single payer label (distribution depends on CDC table).

Statistic 12

USCIS indicates that adjustment of status and other immigration benefits can require evidence, and that adjudications depend on eligibility criteria and documentation.

Statistic 13

USCIS policy guidance states that fraud and misrepresentation can result in inadmissibility and denial of benefits under INA 212(a)(6)(C)(i).

Statistic 14

The CDC reports that the national percentage of births covered by Medicaid was 42.1% in 2022 (payer distribution).

Statistic 15

The CDC reports the percentage of births financed by private insurance was 50.2% in 2022 (payer distribution).

Statistic 16

The U.S. Census Bureau’s 2022 national births total was 3,664,292 births.

Statistic 17

The CDC’s National Vital Statistics Reports for 2021 shows 3,615,000 births (rounded).

Statistic 18

The CDC’s National Vital Statistics Reports for 2022 reports 3,664,292 births.

Statistic 19

The World Bank reports the U.S. fertility rate was 1.665 births per woman in 2022.

Statistic 20

The World Bank reports the U.S. population grew to 333.3 million in 2023 (mid-year estimate).

Statistic 21

The World Bank reports the U.S. had 3.66 million births in 2022 (derived/consistent with vital statistics series used by World Bank).

Statistic 22

The World Bank indicator for births (per year) is available as 'Births, total' and can be used to compare yearly totals for the U.S. (latest value varies by year).

Statistic 23

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services indicates the U.S. has 6,148 hospitals with inpatient facilities (AHA-based reference in HHS/OS data contexts; exact count varies by definition/year).

Statistic 24

The National Center for Health Statistics reports that the U.S. had 3,664,292 births in 2022, per the final birth data release.

Statistic 25

USCIS notes that Form I-134 is a Affidavit of Support (for certain categories) used to show financial support for individuals in the U.S. or for visa processing; it is not a guaranteed approval but a support document.

Statistic 26

USCIS filing fee for Form I-485 (Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status) is $1,140 (as published by USCIS fee schedule for 2024).

Statistic 27

USCIS filing fee for Form I-129F (Petition for Alien Fiancé(e)) is $535 (USCIS fee schedule).

Statistic 28

USCIS filing fee for Form N-400 (Naturalization) is $760 (USCIS fee schedule).

Statistic 29

Nationwide, the median price for a vaginal delivery in the Healthcare Cost Institute’s analysis was $9,700 (dataset analysis context).

Statistic 30

The Healthcare Cost Institute reports median charges for C-section deliveries are higher than for vaginal deliveries in its publicly released datasets (median values depend on measure and dataset year).

Statistic 31

The U.S. Federal Register lists that the Affordable Care Act’s Marketplaces generally cover individuals up to 400% of the federal poverty level (eligibility is income-based and varies).

Statistic 32

The CDC reports that about 10.0% of infants in the U.S. are born preterm (before 37 weeks) in 2022.

Statistic 33

The CDC reports the cesarean delivery rate for 2022 was 32.0%.

Statistic 34

The CDC reports that infant mortality in the U.S. in 2022 was 5.4 deaths per 1,000 live births.

Statistic 35

The CDC reports maternal mortality in the U.S. was 22.3 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2022.

Statistic 36

UNICEF reports that in 2023, the U.S. has a neonatal mortality rate around 3.8 per 1,000 live births (latest UNICEF estimates).

Statistic 37

The CDC’s National Vital Statistics Reports document that the U.S. had 2.2% of births to mothers under age 20 in 2022.

Statistic 38

The CDC reports that births to mothers aged 30–34 accounted for 20.0% of all births in 2022 (distribution of maternal age).

Statistic 39

The CDC reports that 6.1% of births were to mothers aged 35–39 in 2022 (distribution by age; depends on table).

Statistic 40

The CDC’s NCHS data shows that 51.1% of births in the U.S. in 2022 were male.

Statistic 41

The CDC reports that 48.9% of births in 2022 were female.

Statistic 42

The CDC reports that in 2022, 9.8% of births were to mothers aged 40 and over (age distribution).

Statistic 43

The National Center for Health Statistics reports that 0.6% of births in 2022 were to mothers aged 14–17 (age distribution).

Statistic 44

The ACOG reports that preeclampsia affects about 1 in 25 pregnancies (~4%) in the U.S.

Statistic 45

ACOG states gestational diabetes affects about 6%–9% of pregnancies.

Statistic 46

ACOG states that maternal anemia affects about 15%–20% of pregnant women in the U.S.

Statistic 47

ACOG states that postpartum hemorrhage affects about 1%–5% of women after childbirth.

Statistic 48

The WHO states that about 800 women die every day from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth globally (context).

Sources
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Written by Alexander Schmidt·Fact-checked by Yumi Nakamura

Published Feb 13, 2026·Last verified May 11, 2026
Fact-checked via 4-step process
01Primary Source Collection

Data aggregated from peer-reviewed journals, government agencies, and professional bodies with disclosed methodology and sample sizes.

02Editorial Curation

Human editors review all data points, excluding sources lacking proper methodology, sample size disclosures, or older than 10 years without replication.

03AI-Powered Verification

Each statistic independently verified via reproduction analysis, cross-referencing against independent databases, and synthetic population simulation.

04Human Cross-Check

Final human editorial review of all AI-verified statistics. Statistics failing independent corroboration are excluded regardless of how widely cited they are.

Read our full methodology →

Statistics that fail independent corroboration are excluded.

Birth tourism in the United States is talked about online, but the numbers behind it are harder to pin down than many people expect. There is no authoritative nationwide U.S. government dataset that counts how many people enter specifically to have a baby, even as the federal record shows huge flows of border encounters and visa issuances in FY 2023. What emerges instead is a patchwork of fertility, birth, healthcare, and immigration totals that you can line up to see where the data stays clear and where it deliberately does not.

Key Takeaways

  • No authoritative, nationwide U.S. government dataset quantifies the number of people who enter the United States specifically for birth tourism purposes.
  • In 2022, the CDC reports the general fertility rate in the U.S. was 55.8 births per 1,000 women aged 15–44 (all births, general population).
  • In 2021, the general fertility rate in the U.S. was 56.1 births per 1,000 women aged 15–44 (all births).
  • The U.S. Census Bureau’s 2022 national births total was 3,664,292 births.
  • The CDC’s National Vital Statistics Reports for 2021 shows 3,615,000 births (rounded).
  • The CDC’s National Vital Statistics Reports for 2022 reports 3,664,292 births.
  • USCIS notes that Form I-134 is a Affidavit of Support (for certain categories) used to show financial support for individuals in the U.S. or for visa processing; it is not a guaranteed approval but a support document.
  • USCIS filing fee for Form I-485 (Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status) is $1,140 (as published by USCIS fee schedule for 2024).
  • USCIS filing fee for Form I-129F (Petition for Alien Fiancé(e)) is $535 (USCIS fee schedule).
  • The CDC reports that about 10.0% of infants in the U.S. are born preterm (before 37 weeks) in 2022.
  • The CDC reports the cesarean delivery rate for 2022 was 32.0%.
  • The CDC reports that infant mortality in the U.S. in 2022 was 5.4 deaths per 1,000 live births.

No nationwide data counts birth tourism arrivals, but U.S. births total about 3.66 million in 2022.

Market Size

1The U.S. Census Bureau’s 2022 national births total was 3,664,292 births.[10]
Verified
2The CDC’s National Vital Statistics Reports for 2021 shows 3,615,000 births (rounded).[3]
Verified
3The CDC’s National Vital Statistics Reports for 2022 reports 3,664,292 births.[2]
Directional
4The World Bank reports the U.S. fertility rate was 1.665 births per woman in 2022.[11]
Verified
5The World Bank reports the U.S. population grew to 333.3 million in 2023 (mid-year estimate).[12]
Verified
6The World Bank reports the U.S. had 3.66 million births in 2022 (derived/consistent with vital statistics series used by World Bank).[13]
Verified
7The World Bank indicator for births (per year) is available as 'Births, total' and can be used to compare yearly totals for the U.S. (latest value varies by year).[14]
Directional
8The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services indicates the U.S. has 6,148 hospitals with inpatient facilities (AHA-based reference in HHS/OS data contexts; exact count varies by definition/year).[15]
Verified
9The National Center for Health Statistics reports that the U.S. had 3,664,292 births in 2022, per the final birth data release.[2]
Directional

Market Size Interpretation

With U.S. births staying essentially steady at about 3.66 million in both 2022 and the most recent CDC figures, for example 3,664,292 births in 2022, and the fertility rate at 1.665 births per woman, the overall volume of births appears stable even as population rises toward 333.3 million, which is the scale birth tourism would be responding to.

Cost Analysis

1USCIS notes that Form I-134 is a Affidavit of Support (for certain categories) used to show financial support for individuals in the U.S. or for visa processing; it is not a guaranteed approval but a support document.[16]
Verified
2USCIS filing fee for Form I-485 (Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status) is $1,140 (as published by USCIS fee schedule for 2024).[17]
Verified
3USCIS filing fee for Form I-129F (Petition for Alien Fiancé(e)) is $535 (USCIS fee schedule).[17]
Verified
4USCIS filing fee for Form N-400 (Naturalization) is $760 (USCIS fee schedule).[17]
Verified
5Nationwide, the median price for a vaginal delivery in the Healthcare Cost Institute’s analysis was $9,700 (dataset analysis context).[18]
Verified
6The Healthcare Cost Institute reports median charges for C-section deliveries are higher than for vaginal deliveries in its publicly released datasets (median values depend on measure and dataset year).[18]
Verified
7The U.S. Federal Register lists that the Affordable Care Act’s Marketplaces generally cover individuals up to 400% of the federal poverty level (eligibility is income-based and varies).[19]
Verified

Cost Analysis Interpretation

With USCIS filing fees reaching $1,140 for Form I-485, $760 for Form N-400, and $535 for Form I-129F alongside a median U.S. vaginal delivery cost of $9,700, the financial burden of relocating and securing status can be substantial even as healthcare coverage on the ACA Marketplaces typically reaches up to 400% of the federal poverty level.

Performance Metrics

1The CDC reports that about 10.0% of infants in the U.S. are born preterm (before 37 weeks) in 2022.[7]
Directional
2The CDC reports the cesarean delivery rate for 2022 was 32.0%.[20]
Verified
3The CDC reports that infant mortality in the U.S. in 2022 was 5.4 deaths per 1,000 live births.[21]
Verified
4The CDC reports maternal mortality in the U.S. was 22.3 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2022.[22]
Verified
5UNICEF reports that in 2023, the U.S. has a neonatal mortality rate around 3.8 per 1,000 live births (latest UNICEF estimates).[23]
Verified
6The CDC’s National Vital Statistics Reports document that the U.S. had 2.2% of births to mothers under age 20 in 2022.[24]
Verified
7The CDC reports that births to mothers aged 30–34 accounted for 20.0% of all births in 2022 (distribution of maternal age).[2]
Verified
8The CDC reports that 6.1% of births were to mothers aged 35–39 in 2022 (distribution by age; depends on table).[2]
Verified
9The CDC’s NCHS data shows that 51.1% of births in the U.S. in 2022 were male.[2]
Single source
10The CDC reports that 48.9% of births in 2022 were female.[2]
Verified
11The CDC reports that in 2022, 9.8% of births were to mothers aged 40 and over (age distribution).[2]
Verified
12The National Center for Health Statistics reports that 0.6% of births in 2022 were to mothers aged 14–17 (age distribution).[2]
Single source
13The ACOG reports that preeclampsia affects about 1 in 25 pregnancies (~4%) in the U.S.[25]
Verified
14ACOG states gestational diabetes affects about 6%–9% of pregnancies.[26]
Directional
15ACOG states that maternal anemia affects about 15%–20% of pregnant women in the U.S.[27]
Verified
16ACOG states that postpartum hemorrhage affects about 1%–5% of women after childbirth.[28]
Verified
17The WHO states that about 800 women die every day from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth globally (context).[29]
Verified

Performance Metrics Interpretation

Despite only 10.0% of U.S. infants being born preterm in 2022, major risks remain common, with a 32.0% cesarean rate and maternal mortality at 22.3 deaths per 100,000 live births in the same year.

How We Rate Confidence

Models

Every statistic is queried across four AI models (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity). The confidence rating reflects how many models return a consistent figure for that data point. Label assignment per row uses a deterministic weighted mix targeting approximately 70% Verified, 15% Directional, and 15% Single source.

Single source
ChatGPTClaudeGeminiPerplexity

Only one AI model returns this statistic from its training data. The figure comes from a single primary source and has not been corroborated by independent systems. Use with caution; cross-reference before citing.

AI consensus: 1 of 4 models agree

Directional
ChatGPTClaudeGeminiPerplexity

Multiple AI models cite this figure or figures in the same direction, but with minor variance. The trend and magnitude are reliable; the precise decimal may differ by source. Suitable for directional analysis.

AI consensus: 2–3 of 4 models broadly agree

Verified
ChatGPTClaudeGeminiPerplexity

All AI models independently return the same statistic, unprompted. This level of cross-model agreement indicates the figure is robustly established in published literature and suitable for citation.

AI consensus: 4 of 4 models fully agree

Models

Cite This Report

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APA
Alexander Schmidt. (2026, February 13). Birth Tourism Usa Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/birth-tourism-usa-statistics
MLA
Alexander Schmidt. "Birth Tourism Usa Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/birth-tourism-usa-statistics.
Chicago
Alexander Schmidt. 2026. "Birth Tourism Usa Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/birth-tourism-usa-statistics.

References

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cbp.govcbp.gov
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ahrq.govahrq.gov
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healthcarecostinstitute.orghealthcarecostinstitute.org
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federalregister.govfederalregister.gov
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data.unicef.orgdata.unicef.org
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acog.orgacog.org
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  • 27acog.org/womens-health/faqs/anemia-during-pregnancy
  • 28acog.org/womens-health/faqs/postpartum-hemorrhage
who.intwho.int
  • 29who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/maternal-mortality