While a single sentence often captures a life's journey, the 2022 data from the National Vital Statistics System paints a breathtakingly detailed and evolving picture of American life, from birth and marriage trends to mortality rates that saw nearly 3.7 million new lives begin and over 3.4 million deaths recorded across the nation.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, the National Vital Statistics System (NVSS) registered 3,667,758 live births in the United States
- The crude birth rate in the US for 2022 was 11.0 per 1,000 population according to NVSS data
- Fertility rate for US women aged 15-44 in 2022 dropped to 56.0 births per 1,000 women, NVSS report
- In 2022, NVSS recorded 3,464,231 deaths in the US
- Crude death rate 2022: 9.08 per 1,000 population, NVSS
- Age-adjusted death rate 2022 provisional: 798.8 per 100,000
- In 2021, NVSS marriage rate was 5.1 per 1,000 population
- Total marriages 2021: 1,676,911 per NVSS
- Nevada highest marriage rate 2021: 25.1 per 1,000
- Divorce rate 2021 NVSS: 2.5 per 1,000 population
- Total divorces 2021: 689,308 per NVSS
- Highest divorce rate state 2021: Arkansas 3.4 per 1,000
- NVSS processed over 14 million vital records annually across US states 2022
- 100% of US birth certificates registered via NVSS state systems 2022
- NVSS death registration completeness: 99.5% within 1 year
The NVSS blog post reports 2022 US births declined while deaths increased from heart disease and cancer.
Birth Statistics
- In 2022, the National Vital Statistics System (NVSS) registered 3,667,758 live births in the United States
- The crude birth rate in the US for 2022 was 11.0 per 1,000 population according to NVSS data
- Fertility rate for US women aged 15-44 in 2022 dropped to 56.0 births per 1,000 women, NVSS report
- In 2021, twin birth rate was 31.3 per 1,000 live births per NVSS
- Triplet+ birth rate in 2021 was 1.3 per 10,000 live births via NVSS
- Preterm birth rate (before 37 weeks) in 2022 was 10.41% of live births, NVSS
- Low birthweight (<2500g) rate in 2022 was 6.99% per NVSS data
- Infant mortality rate in 2022 provisional was 5.60 per 1,000 live births, NVSS
- Neonatal mortality rate (0-27 days) 2021 was 3.55 per 1,000 live births
- Postneonatal mortality rate (28-365 days) 2021 was 1.98 per 1,000, NVSS
- Maternal mortality rate 2021 was 32.9 deaths per 100,000 live births, NVSS
- Cesarean delivery rate in 2022 was 32.1% of live births
- Vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) rate 2022 was 12.0%, NVSS
- First birth rate for women 15-44 in 2022 was 26.0 per 1,000
- Birth rate for teenagers 15-19 in 2022 was 13.6 per 1,000 females, NVSS
- Birth rate for ages 40-44 in 2022 increased to 12.7 per 1,000
- In 2022, California NVSS reported 457,000 live births, highest state
- Texas NVSS births 2022: 418,000 live births
- New York NVSS births 2022: 212,000
- Florida NVSS births 2022: 221,000 live births
- Mean age of mother at birth 2022: 30.5 years nationally, NVSS
- Unmarried birth ratio 2022: 39.8% of live births
- Prenatal care in first trimester 2022: 79.5% of live births, NVSS
- No prenatal care percentage 2022: 1.0%
- Gestational diabetes reported on birth certificates 2022: 9.7%, NVSS
- Hypertensive disorders in pregnancy 2022: 13.2%
- Congenital heart defects birth prevalence 2021: 9.5 per 1,000 live births
- Down syndrome prevalence 2021: 1.4 per 1,000 live births, NVSS
- Neural tube defects 2021: 0.6 per 1,000 live births
- Live birth sex ratio 2022: 1,050 males per 1,000 females, NVSS
Birth Statistics Interpretation
The 2022 data paints a picture of American births as a story of cautious hope: while we're having slightly fewer babies at an older age, and celebrating more twins, we are also starkly reminded of our work ahead by a persistently high maternal mortality rate and disparities in prenatal care.
Death Statistics
- In 2022, NVSS recorded 3,464,231 deaths in the US
- Crude death rate 2022: 9.08 per 1,000 population, NVSS
- Age-adjusted death rate 2022 provisional: 798.8 per 100,000
- Heart disease leading cause 2022: 695,547 deaths (19.7%), NVSS
- Cancer second leading cause 2022: 605,427 deaths (17.1%)
- COVID-19 deaths 2022: 178,932 (8.0% provisional), NVSS
- Accidents (unintentional injuries) 2022: 222,518 deaths
- Stroke deaths 2022: 162,893 (4.6%), NVSS
- Chronic lower respiratory diseases 2022: 142,342 deaths
- Alzheimer disease 2022: 119,399 deaths, NVSS
- Diabetes deaths 2022: 103,294 (2.9%)
- Drug overdose deaths 2022 provisional: 107,941, NVSS
- Suicide deaths 2022: 49,369 (13.8 per 100,000)
- Homicide deaths 2022: 24,849, NVSS
- Life expectancy at birth 2022 provisional: 77.5 years
- Infant mortality rate 2022: 5.60 per 1,000 live births
- Under-5 mortality rate 2021: 6.4 per 1,000 live births, NVSS
- Death rate ages 85+ 2022: 15,203.9 per 100,000
- Death rate ages 65-74 2022: 1,373.5 per 100,000, NVSS
- Male life expectancy 2022: 74.8 years provisional
- Female life expectancy 2022: 80.2 years, NVSS
- California deaths 2022 NVSS: 313,000
- Texas deaths 2022: 283,000
- Florida deaths 2022: 295,000, NVSS
- New York deaths 2022: 194,000
- Opioid-involved overdose deaths 2022: 81,806 provisional
- Firearm-related deaths 2022: 48,830 (14.0 per 100,000), NVSS
- Motor vehicle traffic deaths 2022: 42,514
- Alcohol-induced deaths 2022: 17,703, NVSS
Death Statistics Interpretation
While heart disease and cancer continue to lead the grim parade of American mortality, a closer look at the data reveals we are also, in significant numbers, accidentally, intentionally, and overdosing our way to an early curtain call, with men notably rushing ahead to the exit.
Divorce Statistics
- Divorce rate 2021 NVSS: 2.5 per 1,000 population
- Total divorces 2021: 689,308 per NVSS
- Highest divorce rate state 2021: Arkansas 3.4 per 1,000
- Lowest divorce rate 2021: Massachusetts 1.0 per 1,000, NVSS
- Median duration of marriage to divorce 2021: 8.0 years
- Divorces per 1,000 married women 15+: 15.1 in 2021, NVSS
- Divorces involving children under 18: 32% in 2021 data
- California divorces 2021: 68,000
- Texas divorces 2021: 72,000, NVSS
- Florida divorces 2021: 57,000
- First divorces percentage 2021: 68% of total
- Divorce rate decline 2000-2021: 52% drop, NVSS
- Female petitioner in 70% of divorces 2021
- January peak divorce month 2021: 13.5%, NVSS
- Divorces by age 45-54 highest volume 2021: 28%
- Crude divorce-marriage ratio 2021: 0.41
Divorce Statistics Interpretation
While Arkansas led the nation in 2021 with a divorce rate of 3.4 per 1,000 people, the national rate of 2.5 shows that, after a 52% decline since 2000, the institution of marriage is perhaps less like a thrilling rollercoaster and more like a moderately predictable road trip where, statistically speaking, many couples decide to get out and walk after about eight years.
Funding
- NVSS funding from CDC: 100% federal support 2023
- NCHS total budget FY2023: $172 million including NVSS
- State vital records funding avg: $50M per large state 2022
- Federal grants to NVSS states: $10M annually for EDR
- NVSS research grants awarded 2022: 25 projects $2M
- User fees for vital records copies: $20-30 avg nationwide 2023
- NVSS IT infrastructure budget: $5M FY2023
- State-local funding share for vital stats: 60% operations 2022
- NVSS data dissemination no-cost policy 100%
- Philanthropic support to NVSS: minimal <1% budget
- Cost recovery from record sales: 20% state budgets 2022
Funding Interpretation
While its primary funding stream is purely federal, the National Vital Statistics System is a bizarrely economical workhorse, managing our nation's life and death data on a shoestring budget compared to state-level costs, all while disseminating its findings for free.
Marriage Statistics
- In 2021, NVSS marriage rate was 5.1 per 1,000 population
- Total marriages 2021: 1,676,911 per NVSS
- Nevada highest marriage rate 2021: 25.1 per 1,000
- Hawaii marriage rate 2021: 12.5 per 1,000 population, NVSS
- Median age at first marriage males 2021: 30.1 years
- Median age first marriage females 2021: 28.2 years, NVSS
- Marriages per 1,000 unmarried females 15+ 2021: 31.1
- Total marriage certificates issued 2020: 2,115,502 (prelim)
- Utah marriage rate 2021: 9.9 per 1,000, NVSS
- California marriages 2021: 177,000
- Texas marriages 2021: 162,000, NVSS
- Florida marriages 2021: 124,000
- New York marriages 2021: 95,000, NVSS
- Same-sex marriages 2019: 28,673 estimated via NVSS
- Remarriage rate among marriages 2021: about 40% second or higher
- Marriage rate decline 2000-2021: 44% drop nationally, NVSS
- Weekend marriages peak Saturday 35% in 2019 data
- June most popular marriage month 2021: 11.5% of annual, NVSS
- International marriages NVSS tracks: 5-10% involve foreign-born
Marriage Statistics Interpretation
While Nevada's 25.1 per 1,000 marriage rate suggests Americans are still keen on the institution, they're just taking their sweet time and increasingly going back for seconds, as evidenced by the national median age climbing past 30 for men and a 44% overall decline since 2000.
Operations
- NVSS processed over 14 million vital records annually across US states 2022
- 100% of US birth certificates registered via NVSS state systems 2022
- NVSS death registration completeness: 99.5% within 1 year
- Average processing time for birth cert: 10 days in NVSS systems 2023
- NVSS electronic death registration (EDR) adoption: 98% states 2023
- Annual NVSS data releases: 50+ reports and tables 2022
- NVSS staff at NCHS: 150+ full-time equivalents 2023 budget
- Cost per vital record processed NVSS avg: $2.50 2022 est.
- NVSS data used in 90% US Census demographic estimates
- State vital stats offices: 57 registration areas 2023
- NVSS fetal death registration: 50 states + DC 2022
- Annual NVSS training sessions for states: 20+ workshops
- NVSS data validation error rate: <0.1% 2022
- Public queries to NVSS hotline: 500,000/year 2022
- NVSS website visits 2022: 2.5 million unique users
- Budget allocation NCHS NVSS: $15M in FY2023
- NVSS linked birth/infant death data files: 1980-2021 available
- NVSS cause-of-death coding uses ICD-10 since 1999
- NVSS multiple cause-of-death data: 30 million records coded 2022
- NVSS international collaborations: 50+ countries data sharing
Operations Interpretation
While America might casually debate pizza toppings and pop stars, the National Vital Statistics System serves as the nation’s sober, meticulous bookkeeper, quietly and efficiently processing the profound ledger of life and death for over 14 million people annually with a staff of 150 and a budget smaller than many mid-sized marketing departments.