In the United States, roughly 126,000 babies were born to teenagers aged 15 to 19 in 2025, based on provisional CDC data. Globally, the number is far larger: an estimated 21 million girls in that same age range become pregnant each year in low- and middle-income countries alone. These numbers represent a dramatic decline from previous decades, but they still affect millions of young people worldwide.
U.S. Teen Birth Numbers
The most recent provisional data from the CDC puts the 2025 teen birth rate at 11.7 births per 1,000 females aged 15 to 19, totaling 125,933 births. Final 2023 data showed a slightly higher rate of 13.1 per 1,000, with 140,977 live births. Birth counts don’t capture the full picture of teen pregnancy, since some pregnancies end in miscarriage or abortion, meaning the total number of teen pregnancies each year is higher than the birth count alone.
Even at today’s lower numbers, the U.S. rate remains notably higher than other wealthy nations. Canada’s teen birth rate is about 6.9 per 1,000, Germany’s is 7.5, and France’s is 9.5. The U.S. rate is roughly double those of its peers.
The Long Decline Since the 1990s
The U.S. teen birth rate dropped 78% between 1991 and 2021. That’s one of the most significant sustained declines in any reproductive health measure in the country. Several factors drove the change. Fewer teens are having sex than in previous generations. Among those who are sexually active, contraceptive use has increased substantially: 92% of sexually experienced teen males used contraception at first sex by the 2015–2019 period, up from 82% in 2002. Among females, 77% used contraception at first sex.
One of the biggest shifts has been the rise of long-acting methods like implants and IUDs among teen girls. Use of these highly effective methods jumped from less than 1% in 2002 to about 19% by 2015–2019. Meanwhile, pill use declined somewhat, and the pullout method became more common, though it’s far less reliable. Federal, state, and local prevention programs launched over the past few decades also played a role, particularly in communities with historically high rates.
The connection between contraception and outcomes is clear in the data. Teens who used contraception at their first sexual experience had a significantly lower chance of giving birth during their teen years compared to those who did not.
Older Teens Account for Most Births
Not all teens face the same level of risk. The vast majority of teen births occur among 18- and 19-year-olds. In 2021, the birth rate for this older group was 27.3 per 1,000, nearly five times the rate of 5.8 per 1,000 for girls aged 15 to 17. This distinction matters because the circumstances, resources, and support systems available to a 19-year-old are often quite different from those of a 15-year-old.
Rates Vary Widely by State
Where you live in the U.S. has a major influence on how common teen births are. In 2023, Mississippi had the highest teen birth rate at 24.9 per 1,000, while New Hampshire had the lowest at 4.6. That’s more than a fivefold difference between states. Southern states consistently rank higher, which tracks with differences in access to contraception, sex education policies, poverty rates, and insurance coverage.
Racial and Ethnic Disparities
Significant gaps exist across racial and ethnic groups, though these disparities have narrowed over time as rates have fallen across all populations. Historically, Hispanic and Black teenagers have had substantially higher birth rates than white teenagers. Poverty, unequal access to health care, and differences in educational opportunity contribute to these gaps more than any biological factor. Prevention programs that target these disparities specifically have helped close the distance, but differences persist.
The Global Picture
Outside the U.S., the scale of teen pregnancy is staggering. The World Health Organization estimates that 21 million girls aged 15 to 19 become pregnant each year in developing regions, resulting in about 12 million births. Roughly half of those pregnancies are unintended.
Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest teen birth rate in the world at 97.9 per 1,000 in 2023, nearly ten times the current U.S. rate. Latin America and the Caribbean follow at 51.4 per 1,000. In these regions, child marriage, limited access to contraception, and barriers to education for girls are the primary drivers. Rates have declined in every region globally, but progress is uneven, and millions of young girls still face pregnancies that carry serious health risks, particularly in places where prenatal care is scarce.