Life and death patterns in the United States shifted again by 2022, with total deaths reaching 3,464,231, up 4.8% from 2021, while births declined to 3,667,758. Fertility trends also moved in opposite directions across ages and groups, from the historic low teen birth rate to a steady twin rate. We pull these threads together from United States Vital statistics to show how births, health risks, and mortality outcomes connect across the country.
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 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
- US life expectancy at birth in 2022 was 77.5 years, up 1.1 from 2021
- Male life expectancy 2022 was 74.8 years, female 80.2 years
- Non-Hispanic white LE 2022 77.6 years
In 2022, U.S. live births fell 2 percent to 3.67 million while births, deaths, and infant mortality patterns shifted.
Related reading
Births
1In 2022, the United States recorded 3,667,758 live births, a 2% decline from 2021
Verified
2The 2022 general fertility rate in the US was 56.0 births per 1,000 women aged 15-44 years, down 3% from 2021
Verified
3In 2022, the birth rate for teenagers aged 15-19 was 13.6 per 1,000 females, a historic low
Directional
4US twin birth rate in 2022 was 31.1 per 1,000 live births, stable from prior year
Verified
5Triplet/+ birth rate in 2022 was 1,389.7 per 100,000 live births, down slightly
Verified
6In 2021, 81.8% of US live births were to non-Hispanic white mothers
Verified
7Birth rate for non-Hispanic black women in 2021 was 53.8 per 1,000 aged 15-44
Verified
8Hispanic fertility rate in 2021 was 63.5 per 1,000 women 15-44 years
Verified
9In 2020, 55.6% of US births occurred in the South census region
Directional
10California reported 422,264 live births in 2020, highest among states
Verified
11New York state birth count in 2020 was 210,282, down 4% from 2019
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12Mean age of mother at first birth in 2021 was 27.3 years, up from prior years
Verified
13Cesarean delivery rate for US births in 2022 was 32.1%
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14Low birthweight (<2500g) rate in 2022 was 8.52% of live births
Single source
15Preterm birth rate (<37 weeks) in 2022 was 10.41%
Directional
16In 2021, prenatal care in first trimester for 83.1% of US live births
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17Smoking during pregnancy rate in 2021 was 6.5% among mothers
Single source
18Multiple birth rate in 2021 was 32.5 per 1,000 live births
Verified
19US birth rate in 2019 was 11.4 per 1,000 population
Verified
20Total fertility rate in 2022 was 1,620.5 per 1,000 women 15-44
Verified
21Births to women 40+ years in 2022 numbered 112,419
Single source
22Unmarried childbearing ratio in 2022 was 39.8%
Verified
23Gestational diabetes rate among mothers in 2021 was 8.8%
Directional
24Hypertensive disorders in pregnancy affected 12.2% in 2021
Verified
25Congenital malformations reported in 3.2% of 2021 births
Single source
26Eclampsia occurred in 0.5% of 2021 US live births
Verified
27Texas had 390,888 births in 2021
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28Florida births in 2021 totaled 223,571
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29Pennsylvania births in 2021 were 131,233
Verified
30Illinois births in 2021 numbered 126,946
Verified
31In 2023 provisional data, US births totaled 3,596,017, down 2%
Directional
Births 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
Verified
2Total US deaths in 2022 numbered 3,464,231, up 4.8% from 2021
Single source
3Heart disease caused 702,880 deaths in 2022, age-adjusted rate 179.6 per 100,000
Verified
4Cancer deaths in 2022 totaled 611,720, rate 156.8 per 100,000
Single source
5COVID-19 deaths in 2022 were 286,913, down 71% from 2021
Verified
6Unintentional injuries caused 233,593 deaths in 2022, rate 59.9 per 100,000
Verified
7Stroke deaths numbered 162,893 in 2022, rate 41.1 per 100,000
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8Chronic lower respiratory diseases killed 147,382 in 2022, rate 37.9 per 100,000
Verified
9Alzheimer disease deaths were 119,399 in 2022, rate 30.5 per 100,000
Single source
10Diabetes deaths totaled 103,294 in 2022, rate 26.4 per 100,000
Verified
11Kidney disease caused 55,427 deaths in 2022, rate 14.3 per 100,000
Single source
12Crude death rate in 2021 was 879.7 per 100,000
Verified
13Influenza/pneumonia deaths in 2022 were 53,544, rate 13.7 per 100,000
Single source
14Suicide deaths numbered 49,369 in 2022, rate 12.7 per 100,000
Verified
15Homicide deaths were 25,896 in 2022, up 1.3%
Verified
16Septicemia deaths totaled 44,917 in 2022, rate 11.5 per 100,000
Verified
17Hypertension deaths were 37,606 in 2022, rate 9.6 per 100,000
Verified
18Parkinson disease caused 19,463 deaths in 2022
Verified
19Liver disease/cirrhosis deaths numbered 56,585 in 2022, rate 14.5 per 100,000
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20Males had death rate of 930.1 per 100,000 in 2022, females 701.9
Verified
21Non-Hispanic white death rate in 2022 was 845.9 per 100,000
Verified
22Non-Hispanic black rate was 922.3 per 100,000 in 2022
Directional
23Hispanic death rate 2022 was 581.1 per 100,000
Verified
24California deaths in 2022 totaled 311,227
Verified
25Texas deaths 2022 were 283,897
Verified
26Florida deaths numbered 302,356 in 2022
Verified
27Drug overdose deaths in 2022 were 108,509, rate 27.9 per 100,000
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28Firearm deaths totaled 48,830 in 2022, up 1%
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29Motor vehicle crash deaths were 42,514 in 2022
Verified
Deaths 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
Verified
2Total divorces in 2021 numbered 689,308, up 10% from 2020
Directional
3Nevada highest divorce rate 2021 at 4.2 per 1,000
Directional
4Arkansas divorce rate 2021 was 3.4 per 1,000 population
Verified
5California divorces totaled 90,581 in 2021
Single source
6Texas divorces numbered 74,305 in 2021
Verified
7Florida divorces 2021 totaled 74,539
Verified
8New York divorces were 41,548 in 2021
Verified
9Median duration of marriage before divorce in 2021 was 8.0 years
Verified
10Divorces involving children under 18 totaled 155,234 in 2021
Verified
112020 provisional divorces were 630,505, down 19%
Verified
12Oklahoma divorce rate 2021 was 3.3 per 1,000
Single source
13Kentucky divorces totaled 25,396 in 2021
Verified
14Alabama divorces numbered 32,919 in 2021
Verified
15Tennessee divorces 2021 were 32,574
Verified
16Louisiana divorces totaled 23,106 in 2021
Single source
17Indiana divorces numbered 25,728 in 2021
Single source
18Mississippi divorce rate 2021 was 3.1 per 1,000
Verified
19Missouri divorces totaled 28,394 in 2021
Verified
20South Carolina divorces 2021 numbered 22,083
Directional
21Divorce rate in 2019 was 2.7 per 1,000 pre-pandemic
Verified
22DC divorce rate 2021 was 1.9 per 1,000
Verified
23Montana divorces totaled 3,339 in 2021
Single source
24Wyoming divorces numbered 2,370 in 2021
Verified
Divorces 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.
More related reading
Infant Mortality
1US infant mortality rate in 2022 was 5.60 per 1,000 live births
Verified
2Total infant deaths in 2022 numbered 20,527
Directional
3Neonatal mortality rate (<28 days) 2022 was 3.58 per 1,000 live births
Verified
4Postneonatal mortality rate (28 days-1 year) 2022 was 2.02 per 1,000
Verified
5Congenital malformations caused 20.1% of infant deaths in 2022
Directional
6Low birthweight was underlying cause in 15.4% of 2022 infant deaths
Verified
7Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) 2022 rate 0.33 per 1,000 live births
Directional
8Maternal complications caused 6.3% of infant deaths in 2022
Verified
9Non-Hispanic black infant mortality rate 2022 was 10.86 per 1,000
Verified
10Non-Hispanic white rate 2022 was 4.42 per 1,000 live births
Verified
11Hispanic infant mortality 2022 was 4.95 per 1,000
Verified
12California infant deaths 2022 totaled 1,725
Verified
13Texas infant mortality count 2022 was 1,698
Verified
14Florida infant deaths numbered 1,218 in 2022
Verified
15Preterm birth related conditions caused 16.7% of infant deaths 2022
Verified
16Unintentional injuries infant death rate 2022 0.48 per 1,000
Directional
172021 infant mortality rate was 5.44 per 1,000 live births
Verified
18Bacterial sepsis of newborn rate 2022 0.22 per 1,000
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19Intrauterine hypoxia/birth asphyxia 1.1% of infant deaths 2022
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20Respiratory distress of newborn 5.2% of 2022 infant deaths
Directional
21Disorders related to short gestation/high birthweight 11.0% infant deaths 2022
Verified
22New York infant deaths 2022 totaled 938
Verified
23Pennsylvania infant mortality 2022 was 609
Verified
24Illinois infant deaths numbered 708 in 2022
Directional
25Ohio infant mortality count 2022 781
Single source
26Georgia infant deaths 2022 totaled 775
Directional
Infant 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
Verified
2Male life expectancy 2022 was 74.8 years, female 80.2 years
Verified
3Non-Hispanic white LE 2022 77.6 years
Verified
4Non-Hispanic black LE 2022 was 72.8 years
Verified
5Hispanic LE 2022 79.1 years
Single source
6Life expectancy at age 65 in 2022 was 18.8 years overall
Single source
72021 LE was 76.4 years, down from 2019's 78.8
Verified
8California LE 2022 estimated 78.9 years
Verified
9New York LE 2022 77.8 years
Verified
10Texas LE 2022 77.2 years
Directional
11Florida LE 2022 77.3 years
Directional
12Healthy life expectancy at birth 2022 ~66 years
Verified
13LE decline 2020-2021 was 2.4 years for males
Verified
14Asian/Pacific Islander LE 2022 83.5 years, highest
Directional
15American Indian/Alaska Native LE 2022 67.9 years, lowest
Verified
16LE at age 1 year 2022 was 77.0 years
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17Infant mortality contribution to LE gap noted in 2022 data
Verified
18COVID-19 reduced LE by ~0.3 years in 2022
Single source
19Pennsylvania LE 2022 77.0 years
Single source
20Illinois LE 2022 77.5 years
Verified
Life 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
Single source
2Total marriages in US 2021 numbered 2,077,000
Verified
3Nevada had highest marriage rate 2021 at 25.9 per 1,000
Directional
4Hawaii marriage rate 2021 was 14.4 per 1,000 population
Verified
5Utah marriages totaled 24,111 in 2021, rate 7.4 per 1,000
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6California marriages in 2021 were 208,995
Verified
7Texas marriages numbered 186,104 in 2021
Verified
8Florida marriages 2021 totaled 142,553
Verified
9New York marriages were 95,456 in 2021
Directional
10Median age at first marriage for males in 2021 was 30.1 years
Single source
11Median age at first marriage for females 2021 was 28.2 years
Verified
12Marriage rate for 25-34 age group in 2021 was 29.7 per 1,000
Verified
132020 provisional marriage count was 1,676,911, down 17%
Verified
14Indiana marriage rate 2021 was 6.8 per 1,000
Single source
15Pennsylvania marriages 2021 totaled 68,098
Verified
16Illinois marriages numbered 58,611 in 2021
Directional
17Ohio marriages 2021 were 70,662
Directional
18Michigan marriages totaled 49,201 in 2021
Directional
19Georgia marriages 2021 numbered 67,751
Verified
20North Carolina marriages 2021 were 67,184
Verified
21Marriage rate in 2019 was 6.1 per 1,000 pre-pandemic
Directional
22DC marriage rate 2021 was 7.8 per 1,000 population
Verified
23Montana marriages totaled 6,905 in 2021, rate 6.2
Verified
24Wyoming marriage rate 2021 was 5.7 per 1,000
Verified
Marriages 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.
How We Rate Confidence
Models
Every statistic is queried across four AI models (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity). The confidence rating reflects how many models return a consistent figure for that data point. Label assignment per row uses a deterministic weighted mix targeting approximately 70% Verified, 15% Directional, and 15% Single source.
Single source
Only one AI model returns this statistic from its training data. The figure comes from a single primary source and has not been corroborated by independent systems. Use with caution; cross-reference before citing.
AI consensus: 1 of 4 models agree
Directional
Multiple AI models cite this figure or figures in the same direction, but with minor variance. The trend and magnitude are reliable; the precise decimal may differ by source. Suitable for directional analysis.
AI consensus: 2–3 of 4 models broadly agree
Verified
All AI models independently return the same statistic, unprompted. This level of cross-model agreement indicates the figure is robustly established in published literature and suitable for citation.
AI consensus: 4 of 4 models fully agree
Models
Cite This Report
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APA
Marcus Afolabi. (2026, February 13). United States Vital Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/united-states-vital-statistics
MLA
Marcus Afolabi. "United States Vital Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/united-states-vital-statistics.
Chicago
Marcus Afolabi. 2026. "United States Vital Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/united-states-vital-statistics.
Sources & References
- Reference 1CDCcdc.gov
cdc.gov
- Reference 2WHOwho.int
who.int