While birth rates are declining from California to Japan and mortality trends reveal urgent public health challenges, the vital records meticulously documenting these life events in offices worldwide form the essential, beating heart of our societies.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, the United States recorded 3,667,758 live births, marking a 2% decline from 2021
- California's Office of Vital Records reported 395,000 births in 2022, down 4.3% from the previous year due to declining fertility rates
- New York State had 212,406 live births in 2021, with a fertility rate of 52.5 per 1,000 women aged 15-44
- In 2021, the US saw 3,464,231 registered deaths, age-adjusted rate 879.7 per 100,000
- Heart disease caused 695,547 deaths in US 2021, 20.1% of total
- Cancer deaths US 2021: 605,213, age-adjusted rate 146.5 per 100,000
- In 2021, US marriages totaled 2,077,000, rate 6.2 per 1,000 population, lowest on record
- Nevada led with marriage rate 25.9 per 1,000 in 2021
- Hawaii marriage rate 2021: 12.5 per 1,000
- In 2021, US divorces totaled 689,308, rate 2.5 per 1,000 population
- Arkansas highest divorce rate US 2021: 3.3 per 1,000
- Nevada divorce rate 2021: 3.0 per 1,000
- US recorded 19,082 adoptions in 2021 through public agencies
- Private adoptions US 2021: approx 115,000 including stepparent
- Interstate adoptions US: 2,000 annually
Global birth rates are declining while the US faces critical maternal and infant health challenges.
Birth Statistics
- In 2022, the United States recorded 3,667,758 live births, marking a 2% decline from 2021
- California's Office of Vital Records reported 395,000 births in 2022, down 4.3% from the previous year due to declining fertility rates
- New York State had 212,406 live births in 2021, with a fertility rate of 52.5 per 1,000 women aged 15-44
- Texas vital records office documented 418,089 births in 2022, highest in the nation, with 25% Hispanic births
- Florida's birth count was 208,707 in 2022, showing a teenage birth rate drop to 11.2 per 1,000 females aged 15-19
- The UK Office for National Statistics reported 605,479 live births in England and Wales for 2022, lowest since 1977
- India's Registrar General reported 24.6 million births in 2021, with a crude birth rate of 17.7 per 1,000 population
- Australia's birth registrations totaled 296,000 in 2022, fertility rate at 1.58 children per woman
- In 2021, Japan had 811,604 births, total fertility rate of 1.30
- Brazil's vital statistics showed 2.7 million births in 2022, with infant mortality at 11.3 per 1,000 live births
- Germany's Federal Statistical Office recorded 738,819 births in 2022, up 6.5% from 2021
- France reported 678,000 births in 2022, fertility rate 1.79, highest in EU
- Mexico's INEGI tallied 1.7 million births in 2022, birth rate 14.8 per 1,000
- South Africa's births numbered 1,012,000 in 2021, with 27.6% preterm
- Canada's vital stats office reported 351,679 births in 2022, fertility 1.33
- Italy had 399,728 births in 2022, down 7.1%
- Spain recorded 322,075 births in 2022, fertility 1.16
- Nigeria estimated 5.4 million births annually, birth rate 36.9 per 1,000
- In 2022, the US preterm birth rate was 10.41%, affecting 383,997 infants
- Low birthweight births in US 2022: 8.52% or 312,000 babies
- US neonatal mortality rate 2022: 3.60 per 1,000 live births
- Maternal mortality ratio in US 2021: 32.9 per 100,000 live births
- Twin birth rate US 2022: 31.7 per 1,000 births
- Cesarean delivery rate US 2022: 32.1%
- First births to women 40+ US 2022: 15,754
- US birth rate for teens 15-19: 13.6 per 1,000 in 2022
- Non-Hispanic Black birth rate US 2022: 17.5 per 1,000 women 15-44
- Hispanic birth rate US 2022: 16.7 per 1,000 women 15-44
- White non-Hispanic birth rate US 2022: 10.1 per 1,000 women 15-44
- Asian/Pacific Islander birth rate US 2022: 11.3 per 1,000 women 15-44
- In 2022, US total fertility rate was 1.64 children per woman
- US age-specific fertility rate 20-24: 28.8 per 1,000 women in 2022
- US age-specific fertility 25-29: 91.5 per 1,000 in 2022
- US age-specific fertility 30-34: 95.1 per 1,000 in 2022
Birth Statistics Interpretation
The data paints a portrait of a world cautiously retreating from the cradle, where nations like France and Texas buzz with relative fecundity amidst a sobering global quiet, while the US itself grapples with a declining but complicated birth narrative marked by stark racial disparities, rising maternal mortality, and a growing preference for scheduling parenthood after 40 and via C-section.
Death Statistics
- In 2021, the US saw 3,464,231 registered deaths, age-adjusted rate 879.7 per 100,000
- Heart disease caused 695,547 deaths in US 2021, 20.1% of total
- Cancer deaths US 2021: 605,213, age-adjusted rate 146.5 per 100,000
- COVID-19 deaths US 2021: 463,000+, leading cause temporarily
- US accidents/unintentional injuries deaths 2021: 224,935, rate 65.9 per 100,000
- Stroke deaths US 2021: 162,890
- Chronic lower respiratory diseases deaths US 2021: 142,342
- Alzheimer's disease deaths US 2021: 119,399
- Diabetes deaths US 2021: 103,294
- Kidney disease deaths US 2021: 54,358
- US infant mortality rate 2021: 5.36 per 1,000 live births
- Neonatal mortality US 2021: 3.55 per 1,000 live births
- Postneonatal mortality US 2021: 1.77 per 1,000 live births
- Life expectancy at birth US 2021: 76.1 years, down 0.9 from 2020
- Male life expectancy US 2021: 73.2 years, female 79.1 years
- Suicide deaths US 2021: 48,183, rate 14.1 per 100,000
- Homicide deaths US 2021: 26,031, rate 7.8 per 100,000
- Drug overdose deaths US 2021: 106,699
- Firearm-related deaths US 2021: 48,830
- California's deaths 2021: 299,121
- New York deaths 2021: 182,201
- Texas deaths 2021: 432,220, highest state total
- Florida deaths 2021: 331,560
- UK deaths 2022: 627,491 in England and Wales
Death Statistics Interpretation
While our modern world dazzles with innovation, this sobering ledger reminds us that the human body remains stubbornly medieval, besieged primarily by its own machinery—heart and brain—with plagues like COVID briefly storming the gates, all while we meticulously log the casualties down to the state line.
Divorce Statistics
- In 2021, US divorces totaled 689,308, rate 2.5 per 1,000 population
- Arkansas highest divorce rate US 2021: 3.3 per 1,000
- Nevada divorce rate 2021: 3.0 per 1,000
- Lowest divorce rate US 2021: Massachusetts 1.0 per 1,000
- Illinois divorces 2021: 28,563
- Median duration of marriages ending in divorce US 2016-2020: 8 years
- 40-50% of first US marriages end in divorce
- Divorce rate for second marriages: 60-67%
- US women initiate 69% of divorces
- Childless couples divorce rate twice as high
- UK's divorces 2021: 113,500 in England and Wales, rate 1.8 per 1,000
- Australia divorces 2022: 49,000, median duration 12.6 years
- Japan divorces 2022: 183,000, rate 1.47 per 1,000
- Median age at divorce Japan 2022: men 35.3, women 32.9
- France divorces 2022: 130,000
- Germany divorces 2022: 142,000
- US divorce filings 2022: up 10% post-COVID
- No-fault divorce states: 49 out of 50 US
- Alimony awarded in 10-15% of US divorces
- Child custody: 51% mothers sole custody 2018
- Joint custody rising to 46% in recent years
Divorce Statistics Interpretation
While the institution of marriage vows "till death do us part," the data soberingly suggests many couples are instead drafting a more realistic prenup with reality, where "forever" has a median expiry date of eight years and the most common editor of that contract is, statistically, a woman with no children and a no-fault clause.
Marriage Statistics
- In 2021, US marriages totaled 2,077,000, rate 6.2 per 1,000 population, lowest on record
- Nevada led with marriage rate 25.9 per 1,000 in 2021
- Hawaii marriage rate 2021: 12.5 per 1,000
- Utah marriages 2021: 21,764, rate 6.6 per 1,000
- Washington DC marriages 2021: 3,257, rate 4.9 per 1,000
- Median age at first marriage US males 2021: 30.1 years, females 28.6 years
- 50% of US adults married in 2021, down from 72% in 1960
- Interracial marriages US 2015-2019: 31% of new marriages
- Same-sex marriages US since 2015: over 1 million
- Wedding industry value US 2022: $70 billion
- Average US wedding cost 2023: $29,000
- UK's marriages 2021: 271,900 in England and Wales, rate 4.3 per 1,000
- Australia marriages 2022: 120,000, rate 4.6 per 1,000
- Japan marriages 2022: 474,717, down 5.9%
- Median age first marriage Japan 2022: men 31.1, women 29.7
- France marriages 2022: 238,000
- Germany civil marriages 2022: 361,000
- India's marriages estimated 10 million annually
- Brazil marriages 2022: 700,000+
- South Africa marriages 2021: 147,000
- Canada marriages 2022: 145,000, rate 3.7 per 1,000
Marriage Statistics Interpretation
The institution of marriage is entering its 'late-stage capitalism' era: fewer people are buying in, those who do are paying a premium, and Nevada remains the strip-mall chapel drive-thru for the entire nation.
Other Vital Records
- US recorded 19,082 adoptions in 2021 through public agencies
- Private adoptions US 2021: approx 115,000 including stepparent
- Interstate adoptions US: 2,000 annually
- International adoptions to US 2022: 1,308, lowest ever
- China source of 25% US international adoptions historically
- US fetal deaths 2021: 21,578 at 20+ weeks, rate 5.8 per 1,000 births
- Induced terminations reported in 42 states 2021: 625,978 abortions
- Gestational age <9 weeks for 92.7% abortions 2021
- Medication abortion 53% of total US 2021
- US name changes petitions: 40,000 annually
- Gender marker changes on birth certificates: 2,000+ per year in CA alone
- US delayed birth registrations: 10,000 yearly
- Stillbirth registration mandatory in 49 states
- Coroner cases US: 20% of deaths require investigation
- Medical examiner systems in 20 US jurisdictions
- UK's adoptions 2022: 3,210 children
- Australia adoptions 2022: 262
- Canada adoptions 2022: 1,600
Other Vital Records Interpretation
Despite a national conversation overflowing with choices, creation, and change, the raw data of family formation in America—from the steep decline of international adoptions to the overwhelming preference for early pregnancy terminations—paints a stark portrait of modern parenthood as a deeply private, often medicalized, and increasingly domestic affair.
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