CDC says U.S. birth, fertility rates dropped to another record low in 2020

U.S. birth and fertility rates dropped to another record low in 2020, according to new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

The National Center for Health and Statistics, the CDC's statistics system, showed that the number of births in 2020 declined by 4% from those in 2019, reaching record lows.

The U.S. birth rate has dropped for the six consecutive year to the lowest levels since 1979, according to CNBC News.

In the report released Tuesday, the birth rates for black and Hispanic from 2019 to 2020 declined by 4% and 3%, respectively, while teen birth declined by 6 percent.

The report also states the 2020 birth rate fell below replacement levels – the number of newborns needed for a nation to keep the population the same from generation to generation, as more people die than are born.

Among the concerns are not enough employees in coming years to fill jobs, which could slow the economy, and too few younger people working and paying into safety net systems like Social Security that support the elderly.