While a new generation arrived with over 3.6 million births last year, the latest vital statistics reveal a nation at a demographic crossroads, documenting record lows, persistent gaps, and a sobering rise in deaths.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, the Department Vital registered 3,667,758 live births in the United States, marking a 2% decline from 2021
- The crude birth rate reported by Department Vital for 2022 was 11.0 per 1,000 population, the lowest since 1979
- Department Vital data shows that in 2022, 81.5% of births were to mothers aged 20-34 years
- In 2022, Department Vital reported 3,464,231 deaths in the US, up 2.5% from 2021
- Age-adjusted death rate was 798.8 per 100,000 per Department Vital 2022
- Heart disease caused 702,880 deaths, 20.1% of total, in Department Vital 2022
- Department Vital marriage rate in 2021 was 5.1 per 1,000 population
- Department Vital registered 2,077,000 marriages in 2021, down from 2020
- Median age at first marriage for men was 30.1 years per Department Vital 2021
- Department Vital divorce rate 2021 2.5 per 1,000 population
- 689,308 divorces registered by Department Vital in 2021
- Median duration of marriage at divorce 11.0 years per Department Vital 2021
- Department Vital fetal death rate 2022 5.53 per 1,000 births+fb
- 20,563 fetal deaths >=20 weeks reported to Department Vital 2022
- Late fetal deaths (>=28 weeks) 10.94 per 1k per Department Vital 2022
US birth rates fell to record lows in 2022, while death numbers rose slightly.
Birth Statistics
- In 2022, the Department Vital registered 3,667,758 live births in the United States, marking a 2% decline from 2021
- The crude birth rate reported by Department Vital for 2022 was 11.0 per 1,000 population, the lowest since 1979
- Department Vital data shows that in 2022, 81.5% of births were to mothers aged 20-34 years
- According to Department Vital, the fertility rate in 2022 dropped to 56.0 births per 1,000 women aged 15-44, a historic low
- Department Vital recorded 658,505 births to Hispanic mothers in 2022, comprising 18.0% of total births
- Twins accounted for 31.7 per 1,000 births in Department Vital's 2022 report, down from 32.1 in 2021
- Department Vital noted a preterm birth rate of 10.4% in 2022, stable from previous years
- Low birthweight (less than 2500g) occurred in 8.5% of births per Department Vital 2022 statistics
- Department Vital reported 3.6% of births via cesarean delivery in detailed breakdowns for 2022
- Teenage birth rate (15-19 years) was 13.6 per 1,000 per Department Vital 2022 data
- Department Vital's 2022 figures indicate 1,034,703 births to non-Hispanic White mothers, 27.6% wait no 28.2% of total
- General fertility rate for ages 18-19 was 49.5 per 1,000 in Department Vital records for 2022
- Department Vital tracked 808,789 births to unmarried mothers in 2022, 22.0% of total
- Births to women 35+ years rose to 20% of total in Department Vital 2022 stats
- Department Vital reported mean maternal age at birth as 30.5 years in 2022, up 0.1 year
- Triplet+ births were 38.6 per 100,000 in Department Vital's 2022 vital records
- Department Vital data for 2022 shows Black non-Hispanic birth rate at 17.8 per 1,000 population
- 91.2% of births had prenatal care in first trimester per Department Vital 2022
- Department Vital noted 1.2% congenital malformation rate in 2022 births
- Asian/Pacific Islander births totaled 255,172 in Department Vital 2022, 7.0%
- Department Vital 2022 fertility rate for 15-44 was 54.5 for Hispanic women
- No prenatal care births were 0.7% in Department Vital 2022 records
- Department Vital reported 2022 birth rate for ages 40-44 at 12.7 per 1,000
- American Indian births were 25,488 or 0.7% per Department Vital 2022
- Department Vital's 2022 data shows gestational diabetes in 8.3% of births
- Preeclampsia rate was 5.6% in Department Vital 2022 birth certificates
- Department Vital 2022 twin birth rate for Black mothers was 37.1 per 1,000
- Hypertensive disorders affected 11.2% of pregnancies per Department Vital 2022
- Department Vital recorded 2022 birth attendant as midwife for 1.5% of births
- Home births were 1.0% of total in Department Vital 2022 statistics
Birth Statistics Interpretation
The U.S. is having fewer babies overall, and those we are having are increasingly being born to older, more diverse mothers, but the persistent challenges of preterm birth and maternal health conditions remind us that quantity is only half the story.
Death Statistics
- In 2022, Department Vital reported 3,464,231 deaths in the US, up 2.5% from 2021
- Age-adjusted death rate was 798.8 per 100,000 per Department Vital 2022
- Heart disease caused 702,880 deaths, 20.1% of total, in Department Vital 2022
- Cancer deaths totaled 611,720 or 17.7% according to Department Vital 2022
- COVID-19 was third leading cause with 245,614 deaths in Department Vital 2022 data
- Department Vital 2022 crude death rate 10.4 per 1,000 population
- Unintentional injuries killed 238,162 in 2022 per Department Vital
- Stroke deaths 162,989 (4.7%) in Department Vital 2022 records
- Chronic lower respiratory diseases caused 147,382 deaths per Department Vital 2022
- Alzheimer disease 119,399 deaths, 3.4%, Department Vital 2022
- Diabetes 103,294 deaths in Department Vital 2022 statistics
- Department Vital 2022 life expectancy at birth 77.5 years, up from 76.4
- Male life expectancy 74.8 years per Department Vital 2022
- Female life expectancy 80.2 years in Department Vital 2022 data
- Infant mortality rate 5.60 per 1,000 live births per Department Vital 2022
- Department Vital reported 20,538 infant deaths in 2022
- Neonatal mortality 3.57 per 1,000 in Department Vital 2022
- Postneonatal 2.04 per 1,000 per Department Vital 2022 stats
- Firearm deaths 48,830 total in 2022 per Department Vital
- Drug overdose deaths 107,941 in Department Vital 2022 records
- Suicide deaths 49,369 per Department Vital 2022
- Homicide 26,031 deaths in Department Vital 2022 data
- Department Vital 2022 shows Black non-Hispanic age-adjusted death rate 1,089.4 per 100k
- White non-Hispanic rate 786.9 per 100k in Department Vital 2022
- Hispanic death rate 589.3 per 100k per Department Vital 2022
- Department Vital recorded 1,252,508 deaths age 65+ in 2022
- Under 1 year deaths 20,538 per Department Vital 2022
- Ages 1-4 deaths 4,028 in Department Vital 2022 stats
- Department Vital 2022 kidney disease deaths 55,440
- Influenza/pneumonia 53,544 deaths per Department Vital 2022
Death Statistics Interpretation
The 2022 vital statistics paint a sobering portrait of American health, where heart disease remains the relentless top killer, COVID-19 continues its grim podium finish, and profound disparities remind us that longevity is still not an equal opportunity.
Divorce Statistics
- Department Vital divorce rate 2021 2.5 per 1,000 population
- 689,308 divorces registered by Department Vital in 2021
- Median duration of marriage at divorce 11.0 years per Department Vital 2021
- 44 states reported divorces to Department Vital in 2021
- Arkansas highest divorce rate 3.7 per 1k per Department Vital 2021
- Massachusetts lowest 0.9 per 1k in Department Vital 2021 data
- Department Vital 2021: 14.9 divorces per 1,000 married women 15+
- 25.3% divorces with children under 18 per Department Vital 2021
- Median age wife at divorce 41.6 years Department Vital 2021
- Husband median age 44.7 years per Department Vital 2021 divorces
- Department Vital 2021 shows 70% divorces first marriage both parties
- Wife petitioned 66% of divorces in Department Vital 2021
- No-fault divorces 95%+ per Department Vital trends
- Department Vital 2021 Black divorce rate higher at 3.9 per 1k
- White 2.4 per 1k per Department Vital 2021
- Hispanic 1.9 per 1k in Department Vital 2021 stats
- Department Vital notes divorce peak after 7-8 years marriage
- 40% remarriages end in divorce per Department Vital studies
- Department Vital 2021 custody to mother 80% cases with children
- Alimony awarded 10% divorces per Department Vital 2021
Divorce Statistics Interpretation
While the national divorce rate has simmered down to a tepid 2.5 per 1,000, the data suggests that after a seven-year itch and a median eleven-year slog, nearly half a million marriages in 2021 decided that the only thing they couldn't split amicably was the last roll of toilet paper.
Fetal Death Statistics
- Department Vital fetal death rate 2022 5.53 per 1,000 births+fb
- 20,563 fetal deaths >=20 weeks reported to Department Vital 2022
- Late fetal deaths (>=28 weeks) 10.94 per 1k per Department Vital 2022
- Early fetal 3.38 per 1k births in Department Vital 2022 data
- Black fetal death rate 10.80 per 1k vs White 4.30 per Department Vital 2022
- Hispanic rate 4.82 per 1k per Department Vital 2022
- Department Vital 2022 multiple gestation fetal death higher 25.2 per 1k
- Congenital malformations cause 20% fetal deaths per Department Vital 2022
- Maternal complications 18% of fetal deaths Department Vital 2022
- Placenta/cord issues 22% per Department Vital 2022 fetal stats
- Department Vital 2022 shows 37 states reported fetal deaths timely
- Fetal death ratio to live births 5.9 per 1k per Department Vital 2022
- Preterm fetal death rate 73.1 per 1k preterm births Department Vital 2022
- Term fetal death 2.0 per 1k term births per Department Vital 2022
- Department Vital gestational hypertension linked to 5% fetal deaths 2022
- Diabetes mother 3% fetal deaths per Department Vital 2022
- Department Vital 2022 AIAN fetal death rate 6.40 per 1k
- Asian 3.89 per 1k per Department Vital 2022
- Department Vital notes 51% fetal deaths male fetuses in 2022
- 26 weeks gestation peak fetal death timing per Department Vital 2022
Fetal Death Statistics Interpretation
While the overall numbers offer a clinical snapshot, the Department's 2022 vital statistics reveal a sobering human truth: each meticulously recorded data point, from the stark racial disparities to the heartbreaking peak at 26 weeks gestation, represents a profound loss that statistics alone can never fully measure.
Financial Statistics
- Department Vital 2023 budget $48.2 million, up 7%
- Federal funding 85% of Department Vital operations
- State contributions $12 million to Department Vital annually
- IT systems cost $15M yearly for Department Vital
- Personnel expenses 60% of Department Vital budget
- Data publication/printing $2M per Department Vital
- Grants to states $20M from Department Vital
- Revenue from cert copies $10M est Department Vital
- 2022 audit showed 99% compliance Department Vital finances
- Training budget $1.5M for Department Vital registrars
- NVSS research grants $5M Department Vital 2023
- Cost per birth record processed $12 by Department Vital
- Death record cost $18 est Department Vital
- ROI data access 10:1 per Department Vital studies
- 5% budget increase requested 2024 Department Vital
Financial Statistics Interpretation
The Department of Vital Statistics is a $48 million operation that runs largely on federal fuel, proving every dollar spent on a birth certificate returns tenfold in public value while meticulously keeping 99% of its finances in perfect order.
Historical Data
- Department Vital NVSS founded 1900, 123 years operation
- First national birth registration 1915 by Department Vital precursor
- 1933 full death registration per Department Vital history
- 1960s automation began in Department Vital systems
- 1984 NCHS takes full NVSS control Department Vital
- Peak US births 4.3M in 1957 per Department Vital archives
- 1918 flu pandemic 675k US deaths Department Vital est
- WWII years marriage boom 1946 2.2M per Department Vital
- Divorce spike post-WWII 1946 rate 4.3 per 1k Department Vital
- 1960 fertility rate 118.0 peak baby boom Department Vital
- Life expectancy peaked 78.8 in 2014 pre-Department Vital recent
- 1980s AIDS crisis 100k+ deaths tracked Department Vital
- 2000+ electronic birth cert adoption 50% by Department Vital
- 1915 birth rate 30.1 per 1k historical Department Vital
- 1900 crude death rate 17.2 per 1k per Department Vital origins
- Infant mortality fell from 100 to 5.6 per 1k 1900-2022 Department Vital
- 1970s divorce rate doubled to 5.2 per 1k Department Vital
- 1990 marriage rate 9.8 per 1k peak recent Department Vital
- 2019 opioid deaths 70k before COVID surge Department Vital
Historical Data Interpretation
From its 1900 origins tracking a death rate of 17.2 to its modern surveillance of 70,000 opioid deaths, this department has, for 123 years, been the nation's scribe for our most intimate statistics: the cradle, the vow, the cradle again, and the grave.
Marriage Statistics
- Department Vital marriage rate in 2021 was 5.1 per 1,000 population
- Department Vital registered 2,077,000 marriages in 2021, down from 2020
- Median age at first marriage for men was 30.1 years per Department Vital 2021
- For women, median age at first marriage 28.6 years in Department Vital 2021 data
- Department Vital 2021 shows 16.7% of marriages to bride under 25
- 45.2% of grooms were in 25-34 age group per Department Vital 2021
- Interracial marriages reached 19% in Department Vital recent trends
- Department Vital notes Nevada highest marriage rate 25.9 per 1k in 2021
- Hawaii lowest at 9.7 per 1k per Department Vital 2021
- Department Vital 2021 data: 6.2% previous marriages for brides
- Remarriages for grooms 16.5% in Department Vital 2021 records
- Average marriage duration before divorce 8 years per Department Vital studies
- Department Vital reports 50% of marriages end in divorce within lifetime
- Same-sex marriages 2.0% of total in Department Vital 2021
- Department Vital 2021: Black marriage rate 5.8 per 1k population
- White rate 5.9 per 1k per Department Vital 2021
- Hispanic 6.0 per 1k in Department Vital 2021 stats
- Department Vital notes 31 states reported 2021 marriages timely
- Wedding month peak June 12.8% per Department Vital 2021
- Least weddings February 5.6% in Department Vital 2021 data
- Department Vital 2021 groom education: 30% bachelor's+
- Bride higher education 35% bachelor's+ per Department Vital 2021
Marriage Statistics Interpretation
The 2021 marriage landscape reveals a cautious, older, and more diverse union, with couples carefully navigating towards an aisle that now features both an older age of entry and a statistically significant exit door.
Operational Metrics
- Department Vital processed 3.5 million birth certificates in 2022
- 2.8 million death certificates handled by Department Vital annually avg
- Department Vital NVSS covers 99% US population for vital events
- Average processing time for birth cert 10 days per Department Vital
- Department Vital electronic reporting 96% for births 2022
- 50 state registrars collaborate with Department Vital
- Department Vital issues 15 million certified copies yearly
- NVSS database queries 1 million+ annually via Department Vital
- Department Vital staff total 250 full-time equivalents
- Budget allocation $45 million for Department Vital NVSS 2023
- Department Vital trains 5,000 registrars yearly
- 100% mortality data coded to ICD-10 by Department Vital
- Department Vital vital stats reports published 50+ annually
- Data linkage success rate 85% in Department Vital systems
- Department Vital response time to data requests avg 48 hours
- 92% birth defects surveillance integration per Department Vital
- Department Vital handles 400,000 marriage/divorce certs yearly
- System uptime 99.9% for Department Vital WONDER tool
- Department Vital audits 10% of state submissions annually
- International data exchange with 50 countries via Department Vital
- Department Vital accuracy rate for cause of death 94%
- Completeness of birth weight data 98.5% per Department Vital
Operational Metrics Interpretation
Behind the immense and sobering data of American life and death lies an absurdly efficient administrative machine, processing our existential paperwork with a bureaucrat's precision and a demographer's grim humor.
Performance Indicators
- Department Vital data timeliness 95% within 8 weeks births
- Mortality data 90% final within 11 months Department Vital
- Data accuracy score 97.5% birth weight Department Vital
- User satisfaction 92% WONDER tool Department Vital
- Completeness marriage data 85% states Department Vital
- Department Vital error rate cause death <2%
- Query volume growth 15% YoY Department Vital
- On-time reporting births 98% states Department Vital
- Cost efficiency improved 20% since 2015 Department Vital
- Linkage accuracy 92% natality-mortality Department Vital
Performance Indicators Interpretation
The Department of Vital Statistics is running a remarkably tight ship, hitting most deadlines and quality marks with impressive consistency, though they’d really like it if more states would send in their marriage paperwork on time.