While the birth rate continues to decline and tragic disparities in infant mortality persist, the latest snapshot of U.S. births, deaths, marriages, and divorces reveals profound changes reshaping the nation's demographic fabric.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, the United States recorded 3,667,758 live births, a 2% decline from 2021
- The 2022 general fertility rate in the US was 56.0 births per 1,000 women aged 15-44 years, down 3% from 2021
- In 2022, the birth rate for teenagers aged 15-19 was 13.6 per 1,000 females, a historic low
- In 2022, age-adjusted death rate in US was 798.8 per 100,000 population
- Total US deaths in 2022 numbered 3,464,231, up 4.8% from 2021
- Heart disease caused 702,880 deaths in 2022, age-adjusted rate 179.6 per 100,000
- US marriage rate in 2021 was 6.0 per 1,000 population, up 12% from 2020
- Total marriages in US 2021 numbered 2,077,000
- Nevada had highest marriage rate 2021 at 25.9 per 1,000
- US divorce rate in 2021 was 2.5 per 1,000 population
- Total divorces in 2021 numbered 689,308, up 10% from 2020
- Nevada highest divorce rate 2021 at 4.2 per 1,000
- US infant mortality rate in 2022 was 5.60 per 1,000 live births
- Total infant deaths in 2022 numbered 20,527
- Neonatal mortality rate (<28 days) 2022 was 3.58 per 1,000 live births
The United States is experiencing declining birth rates alongside persistent public health challenges and mortality gaps.
Births
1In 2022, the United States recorded 3,667,758 live births, a 2% decline from 2021
Verified2The 2022 general fertility rate in the US was 56.0 births per 1,000 women aged 15-44 years, down 3% from 2021
Verified3In 2022, the birth rate for teenagers aged 15-19 was 13.6 per 1,000 females, a historic low
Verified4US twin birth rate in 2022 was 31.1 per 1,000 live births, stable from prior year
Directional5Triplet/+ birth rate in 2022 was 1,389.7 per 100,000 live births, down slightly
Single source6In 2021, 81.8% of US live births were to non-Hispanic white mothers
Verified7Birth rate for non-Hispanic black women in 2021 was 53.8 per 1,000 aged 15-44
Verified8Hispanic fertility rate in 2021 was 63.5 per 1,000 women 15-44 years
Verified9In 2020, 55.6% of US births occurred in the South census region
Directional10California reported 422,264 live births in 2020, highest among states
Single source11New York state birth count in 2020 was 210,282, down 4% from 2019
Verified12Mean age of mother at first birth in 2021 was 27.3 years, up from prior years
Verified13Cesarean delivery rate for US births in 2022 was 32.1%
Verified14Low birthweight (<2500g) rate in 2022 was 8.52% of live births
Directional15Preterm birth rate (<37 weeks) in 2022 was 10.41%
Single source16In 2021, prenatal care in first trimester for 83.1% of US live births
Verified17Smoking during pregnancy rate in 2021 was 6.5% among mothers
Verified18Multiple birth rate in 2021 was 32.5 per 1,000 live births
Verified19US birth rate in 2019 was 11.4 per 1,000 population
Directional20Total fertility rate in 2022 was 1,620.5 per 1,000 women 15-44
Single source21Births to women 40+ years in 2022 numbered 112,419
Verified22Unmarried childbearing ratio in 2022 was 39.8%
Verified23Gestational diabetes rate among mothers in 2021 was 8.8%
Verified24Hypertensive disorders in pregnancy affected 12.2% in 2021
Directional25Congenital malformations reported in 3.2% of 2021 births
Single source26Eclampsia occurred in 0.5% of 2021 US live births
Verified27Texas had 390,888 births in 2021
Verified28Florida births in 2021 totaled 223,571
Verified29Pennsylvania births in 2021 were 131,233
Directional30Illinois births in 2021 numbered 126,946
Single source31In 2023 provisional data, US births totaled 3,596,017, down 2%
VerifiedBirths Interpretation
The American cradle is slowing its rock, growing more seasoned in its mothers and mindful in its methods, yet it still faces a persistent chorus of health challenges and disparities.
Deaths
1In 2022, age-adjusted death rate in US was 798.8 per 100,000 population
Verified2Total US deaths in 2022 numbered 3,464,231, up 4.8% from 2021
Verified3Heart disease caused 702,880 deaths in 2022, age-adjusted rate 179.6 per 100,000
Verified4Cancer deaths in 2022 totaled 611,720, rate 156.8 per 100,000
Directional5COVID-19 deaths in 2022 were 286,913, down 71% from 2021
Single source6Unintentional injuries caused 233,593 deaths in 2022, rate 59.9 per 100,000
Verified7Stroke deaths numbered 162,893 in 2022, rate 41.1 per 100,000
Verified8Chronic lower respiratory diseases killed 147,382 in 2022, rate 37.9 per 100,000
Verified9Alzheimer disease deaths were 119,399 in 2022, rate 30.5 per 100,000
Directional10Diabetes deaths totaled 103,294 in 2022, rate 26.4 per 100,000
Single source11Kidney disease caused 55,427 deaths in 2022, rate 14.3 per 100,000
Verified12Crude death rate in 2021 was 879.7 per 100,000
Verified13Influenza/pneumonia deaths in 2022 were 53,544, rate 13.7 per 100,000
Verified14Suicide deaths numbered 49,369 in 2022, rate 12.7 per 100,000
Directional15Homicide deaths were 25,896 in 2022, up 1.3%
Single source16Septicemia deaths totaled 44,917 in 2022, rate 11.5 per 100,000
Verified17Hypertension deaths were 37,606 in 2022, rate 9.6 per 100,000
Verified18Parkinson disease caused 19,463 deaths in 2022
Verified19Liver disease/cirrhosis deaths numbered 56,585 in 2022, rate 14.5 per 100,000
Directional20Males had death rate of 930.1 per 100,000 in 2022, females 701.9
Single source21Non-Hispanic white death rate in 2022 was 845.9 per 100,000
Verified22Non-Hispanic black rate was 922.3 per 100,000 in 2022
Verified23Hispanic death rate 2022 was 581.1 per 100,000
Verified24California deaths in 2022 totaled 311,227
Directional25Texas deaths 2022 were 283,897
Single source26Florida deaths numbered 302,356 in 2022
Verified27Drug overdose deaths in 2022 were 108,509, rate 27.9 per 100,000
Verified28Firearm deaths totaled 48,830 in 2022, up 1%
Verified29Motor vehicle crash deaths were 42,514 in 2022
DirectionalDeaths Interpretation
If death were a dinner party in 2022, heart disease and cancer were the overwhelmingly persistent hosts, COVID finally stopped hogging the conversation, and we all need to have a serious talk about who keeps bringing the uninvited plus-ones of overdoses, firearms, and car crashes.
Divorces
1US divorce rate in 2021 was 2.5 per 1,000 population
Verified2Total divorces in 2021 numbered 689,308, up 10% from 2020
Verified3Nevada highest divorce rate 2021 at 4.2 per 1,000
Verified4Arkansas divorce rate 2021 was 3.4 per 1,000 population
Directional5California divorces totaled 90,581 in 2021
Single source6Texas divorces numbered 74,305 in 2021
Verified7Florida divorces 2021 totaled 74,539
Verified8New York divorces were 41,548 in 2021
Verified9Median duration of marriage before divorce in 2021 was 8.0 years
Directional10Divorces involving children under 18 totaled 155,234 in 2021
Single source112020 provisional divorces were 630,505, down 19%
Verified12Oklahoma divorce rate 2021 was 3.3 per 1,000
Verified13Kentucky divorces totaled 25,396 in 2021
Verified14Alabama divorces numbered 32,919 in 2021
Directional15Tennessee divorces 2021 were 32,574
Single source16Louisiana divorces totaled 23,106 in 2021
Verified17Indiana divorces numbered 25,728 in 2021
Verified18Mississippi divorce rate 2021 was 3.1 per 1,000
Verified19Missouri divorces totaled 28,394 in 2021
Directional20South Carolina divorces 2021 numbered 22,083
Single source21Divorce rate in 2019 was 2.7 per 1,000 pre-pandemic
Verified22DC divorce rate 2021 was 1.9 per 1,000
Verified23Montana divorces totaled 3,339 in 2021
Verified24Wyoming divorces numbered 2,370 in 2021
DirectionalDivorces Interpretation
In 2021, after eight years of typical wedded bliss, America decided the odds weren't in its favor and collectively placed its bets on a national re-set, with Nevada firmly leading the table and one in four splits involving a family reshuffle.
Infant Mortality
1US infant mortality rate in 2022 was 5.60 per 1,000 live births
Verified2Total infant deaths in 2022 numbered 20,527
Verified3Neonatal mortality rate (<28 days) 2022 was 3.58 per 1,000 live births
Verified4Postneonatal mortality rate (28 days-1 year) 2022 was 2.02 per 1,000
Directional5Congenital malformations caused 20.1% of infant deaths in 2022
Single source6Low birthweight was underlying cause in 15.4% of 2022 infant deaths
Verified7Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) 2022 rate 0.33 per 1,000 live births
Verified8Maternal complications caused 6.3% of infant deaths in 2022
Verified9Non-Hispanic black infant mortality rate 2022 was 10.86 per 1,000
Directional10Non-Hispanic white rate 2022 was 4.42 per 1,000 live births
Single source11Hispanic infant mortality 2022 was 4.95 per 1,000
Verified12California infant deaths 2022 totaled 1,725
Verified13Texas infant mortality count 2022 was 1,698
Verified14Florida infant deaths numbered 1,218 in 2022
Directional15Preterm birth related conditions caused 16.7% of infant deaths 2022
Single source16Unintentional injuries infant death rate 2022 0.48 per 1,000
Verified172021 infant mortality rate was 5.44 per 1,000 live births
Verified18Bacterial sepsis of newborn rate 2022 0.22 per 1,000
Verified19Intrauterine hypoxia/birth asphyxia 1.1% of infant deaths 2022
Directional20Respiratory distress of newborn 5.2% of 2022 infant deaths
Single source21Disorders related to short gestation/high birthweight 11.0% infant deaths 2022
Verified22New York infant deaths 2022 totaled 938
Verified23Pennsylvania infant mortality 2022 was 609
Verified24Illinois infant deaths numbered 708 in 2022
Directional25Ohio infant mortality count 2022 781
Single source26Georgia infant deaths 2022 totaled 775
VerifiedInfant Mortality Interpretation
While we can measure a nation's progress in many ways, the persistently high and unequal infant mortality rates reveal a sobering truth: our most vulnerable citizens often face the gravest inequities from their very first breath.
Life Expectancy
1US life expectancy at birth in 2022 was 77.5 years, up 1.1 from 2021
Verified2Male life expectancy 2022 was 74.8 years, female 80.2 years
Verified3Non-Hispanic white LE 2022 77.6 years
Verified4Non-Hispanic black LE 2022 was 72.8 years
Directional5Hispanic LE 2022 79.1 years
Single source6Life expectancy at age 65 in 2022 was 18.8 years overall
Verified72021 LE was 76.4 years, down from 2019's 78.8
Verified8California LE 2022 estimated 78.9 years
Verified9New York LE 2022 77.8 years
Directional10Texas LE 2022 77.2 years
Single source11Florida LE 2022 77.3 years
Verified12Healthy life expectancy at birth 2022 ~66 years
Verified13LE decline 2020-2021 was 2.4 years for males
Verified14Asian/Pacific Islander LE 2022 83.5 years, highest
Directional15American Indian/Alaska Native LE 2022 67.9 years, lowest
Single source16LE at age 1 year 2022 was 77.0 years
Verified17Infant mortality contribution to LE gap noted in 2022 data
Verified18COVID-19 reduced LE by ~0.3 years in 2022
Verified19Pennsylvania LE 2022 77.0 years
Directional20Illinois LE 2022 77.5 years
Single sourceLife Expectancy Interpretation
We climbed back from the pandemic's cliff edge in 2022, gaining a precarious 1.1 years collectively, yet the view from the top still reveals a stubbornly uneven landscape of inequality where your zip code and the color of your skin stubbornly chart the course of your life.
Marriages
1US marriage rate in 2021 was 6.0 per 1,000 population, up 12% from 2020
Verified2Total marriages in US 2021 numbered 2,077,000
Verified3Nevada had highest marriage rate 2021 at 25.9 per 1,000
Verified4Hawaii marriage rate 2021 was 14.4 per 1,000 population
Directional5Utah marriages totaled 24,111 in 2021, rate 7.4 per 1,000
Single source6California marriages in 2021 were 208,995
Verified7Texas marriages numbered 186,104 in 2021
Verified8Florida marriages 2021 totaled 142,553
Verified9New York marriages were 95,456 in 2021
Directional10Median age at first marriage for males in 2021 was 30.1 years
Single source11Median age at first marriage for females 2021 was 28.2 years
Verified12Marriage rate for 25-34 age group in 2021 was 29.7 per 1,000
Verified132020 provisional marriage count was 1,676,911, down 17%
Verified14Indiana marriage rate 2021 was 6.8 per 1,000
Directional15Pennsylvania marriages 2021 totaled 68,098
Single source16Illinois marriages numbered 58,611 in 2021
Verified17Ohio marriages 2021 were 70,662
Verified18Michigan marriages totaled 49,201 in 2021
Verified19Georgia marriages 2021 numbered 67,751
Directional20North Carolina marriages 2021 were 67,184
Single source21Marriage rate in 2019 was 6.1 per 1,000 pre-pandemic
Verified22DC marriage rate 2021 was 7.8 per 1,000 population
Verified23Montana marriages totaled 6,905 in 2021, rate 6.2
Verified24Wyoming marriage rate 2021 was 5.7 per 1,000
DirectionalMarriages Interpretation
After a year of pandemic-induced isolation, Americans collectively decided in 2021 to not only love their neighbor but, in many cases, legally marry them, with Las Vegas weddings leading the charge and the rest of the nation cautiously following suit while still waiting a few more years to actually settle down.