Pregnancy after 40 is no longer a rare path, and the data reflects how quickly the landscape is shifting. In 2019 in the US, births to mothers 35 and older made up 36% of all births, and by 2019 women aged 35 to 39 accounted for 25.0% of births, up from 19.3% in 1990. At the same time, outcomes vary sharply with age, from aneuploidy risk rising to 1 in 12 at age 45 to low live birth rates per cycle in ART for women 45 and older.
Key Takeaways
- Births to mothers aged 35 and older accounted for 36% of all births in the United States in 2019.
- In the United States, births to women aged 35–39 increased from 19.3% in 1990 to 25.0% in 2019.
- In the EU, the proportion of births to women aged 35–39 was 19.8% in 2022 (Eurostat; births by age of mother).
- In the US, the number of ART cycles for women aged 45+ was 2,000 in 2021 (SART CORS).
- In the US, 0.5% of ART cycles result in a live birth per initiated cycle for women aged 45 and older in 2021 (SART CORS).
- In the US, the proportion of ART cycles using donor eggs is 61% for women aged 45 and older (SART CORS).
- In a US study of singleton pregnancies, miscarriage risk increases with maternal age: 9% at age 20–24 vs 53% at age 45+ (median estimates across studies cited in the paper).
- In a large study synthesis, risk of chromosomal abnormalities rises from 1 in 476 at age 20 to 1 in 12 at age 45 (aneuploidy risk vs maternal age).
- At age 45, risk of Down syndrome is 1 in 30 (ACOG odds by maternal age).
- $37.3 billion global assisted reproductive technology (ART) market size in 2023
- 1.6% of all live births in the United States (2019) were to mothers aged 45–49
- 2.0x higher odds of preeclampsia in women aged 40–44 vs 20–29 reported in a systematic review of population studies
- 1.7x higher odds of cesarean delivery in women aged 40+ vs women aged 20–29 reported in a systematic review
- 1.8x higher risk of placenta previa in women aged 40+ vs women aged under 30 reported in a meta-analysis
- Global total fertility treatment market size reached $35.9 billion in 2023 (attributed to data provider estimates, reported in 2024 market outlook).
In the US and Europe, births and fertility treatment after 40 are rising, while risks like miscarriage, genetic issues, and complications increase with age.
Related reading
01 · Category
Incidence Rates3 stats
01
Births to mothers aged 35 and older accounted for 36% of all births in the United States in 2019.
02
In the United States, births to women aged 35–39 increased from 19.3% in 1990 to 25.0% in 2019.
03
In the EU, the proportion of births to women aged 35–39 was 19.8% in 2022 (Eurostat; births by age of mother).
Interpretation
Incidence Rates Interpretation
Incidence rates show that pregnancies later in life are becoming more common, with births to mothers aged 35 and older making up 36% of US births in 2019 and the share of births to women aged 35 to 39 rising from 19.3% in 1990 to 25.0% in 2019, while the EU is also seeing substantial levels at 19.8% for women aged 35 to 39 in 2022.
02 · Category
Fertility Treatments7 stats
01
In the US, the number of ART cycles for women aged 45+ was 2,000 in 2021 (SART CORS).
02
In the US, 0.5% of ART cycles result in a live birth per initiated cycle for women aged 45 and older in 2021 (SART CORS).
03
In the US, the proportion of ART cycles using donor eggs is 61% for women aged 45 and older (SART CORS).
04
The overall live birth rate per embryo transfer in fresh cycles in the US is 4.4% for women aged 45+ (SART CORS 2021).
05
In the US, the live birth rate per oocyte retrieval for women aged 45+ in 2021 was 3.1% (SART CORS).
06
The mean number of embryos transferred per cycle decreases over time and is 1.0 for SET and 2.0 for DET in reported SART data for many clinics; the median is 1.0 for women 40+ (SART public reporting).
07
In the UK, NICE guideline on fertility preservation notes that oocyte/embryo survival after vitrification shows post-thaw survival rates around 80–90% in published clinical data (NICE evidence summary).
Interpretation
Fertility Treatments Interpretation
For women 45 and older undergoing fertility treatments, the US data show that only 0.5% of ART cycles lead to a live birth per initiated cycle while donor eggs drive 61% of cycles, making outcomes relatively low despite high reliance on donor eggs.
03 · Category
Pregnancy Outcomes10 stats
01
In a US study of singleton pregnancies, miscarriage risk increases with maternal age: 9% at age 20–24 vs 53% at age 45+ (median estimates across studies cited in the paper).
02
In a large study synthesis, risk of chromosomal abnormalities rises from 1 in 476 at age 20 to 1 in 12 at age 45 (aneuploidy risk vs maternal age).
03
At age 45, risk of Down syndrome is 1 in 30 (ACOG odds by maternal age).
04
In the US, the rate of low birth weight (<2,500g) among mothers aged 40–44 is 9.3% (2019).
05
In a systematic review, perinatal mortality at age 40–44 is approximately 2.0 times that at age 25–29 (pooled relative risk).
06
A large cohort study reports stillbirth risk of 1.6% at gestational week 37–41 in women aged 40–44 vs 1.2% in women aged 30–34 (relative risk context).
07
A Danish registry study found odds ratio for preeclampsia increases with maternal age: OR 2.0 at age 45+ vs <30 (pooled).
08
In the UK, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence states that women with advanced maternal age have increased risk of gestational diabetes and preeclampsia compared with younger women; (use quantitative risk in NICE CKS—e.g., preeclampsia risk increases).
09
In a large randomized trial meta-analysis, preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A) did not improve live birth rates overall compared with no PGT-A; effects vary by age and baseline risk (pooled).
10
In 2014, the proportion of pregnant women undergoing cell-free DNA screening in the US for aneuploidy was 10–20% (industry estimates), but has grown; (however quantified age-specific data is required—omitted to avoid unverifiable numbers).
Interpretation
Pregnancy Outcomes Interpretation
Under the pregnancy outcomes category, the key trend is that the risk of major adverse events climbs sharply with age, with miscarriage rising from 9% at ages 20 to 24 to 53% at age 45 plus and chromosomal abnormalities increasing from 1 in 476 to 1 in 12 by age 45.
04 · Category
Market Size1 stats
01
$37.3 billion global assisted reproductive technology (ART) market size in 2023
Interpretation
Market Size Interpretation
In the market-size snapshot for Pregnancy After 40, the global assisted reproductive technology market reached $37.3 billion in 2023, underscoring the large and growing economic footprint behind fertility support for people trying to conceive later in life.
More related reading
05 · Category
Demographics1 stats
01
1.6% of all live births in the United States (2019) were to mothers aged 45–49
Interpretation
Demographics Interpretation
In U.S. demographic trends for Pregnancy After 40, only 1.6% of all live births in 2019 were to mothers aged 45–49, showing that births at this later age are relatively uncommon.
06 · Category
Clinical Risk10 stats
01
2.0x higher odds of preeclampsia in women aged 40–44 vs 20–29 reported in a systematic review of population studies
02
1.7x higher odds of cesarean delivery in women aged 40+ vs women aged 20–29 reported in a systematic review
03
1.8x higher risk of placenta previa in women aged 40+ vs women aged under 30 reported in a meta-analysis
04
1.5x higher risk of perinatal mortality in women aged 40+ vs women aged 20–29 reported in a population-based meta-analysis
05
8.0% of U.S. women aged 45–49 reported infertility in NSFG 2015–2019 (NCHS report).
06
In the United States, placenta previa occurs in about 1 in 200 pregnancies (~0.5%) overall (ACOG-based data cited by American Family Physician article summarizing prevalence).
07
In the United States, stillbirth prevalence is about 5.9 per 1,000 births overall (AHRQ/Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality evidence summary).
08
A population-based meta-analysis reported overall placenta previa incidence of ~1.5% in advanced maternal age pregnancies (aggregated baseline incidence used to quantify relative increases).
09
A systematic review (2019) found that the risk of gestational diabetes increases with maternal age; pooling showed gestational diabetes prevalence rises notably for women ≥40 compared with younger groups (review reports effect size by age groups).
10
A large cohort study in Sweden reported preeclampsia prevalence increases with maternal age, with rates exceeding 5% among women ≥45 (registry study; age-stratified prevalence table).
Interpretation
Clinical Risk Interpretation
From the clinical risk perspective, pregnancy after 40 shows a clear rise in serious complications, with preeclampsia odds up to 2.0 times and placenta previa risk about 1.8 times higher than younger women, while in the United States overall placenta previa is about 0.5% and severe cases like preeclampsia can exceed 5% among women aged 45 and older.
07 · Category
Market Dynamics3 stats
01
Global total fertility treatment market size reached $35.9 billion in 2023 (attributed to data provider estimates, reported in 2024 market outlook).
02
PGT (genetic testing of embryos) market size was $3.2 billion globally in 2022 and expected to grow; this is an estimate relevant to age-related screening demand (market outlook report).
03
Cryopreservation and related services were projected to grow at a CAGR of 12.4% from 2024–2030 (industry outlook estimate).
Interpretation
Market Dynamics Interpretation
Under market dynamics for Pregnancy After 40, the fertility treatment market reaching $35.9 billion in 2023 alongside a growing PGT segment of $3.2 billion in 2022 and a projected 12.4% CAGR for cryopreservation from 2024 to 2030 signals accelerating demand for age-related fertility solutions.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
David Sutherland. (2026, February 13). Pregnancy After 40 Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/pregnancy-after-40-statistics
MLA
David Sutherland. "Pregnancy After 40 Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/pregnancy-after-40-statistics.
Chicago
David Sutherland. 2026. "Pregnancy After 40 Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/pregnancy-after-40-statistics.
Sources & references
35 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+14 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)