| Q: |
How do States vary in their birth rates for teen mothers ages 15-17? |
| A: |
The 2020 birth rate for teen mothers ages 15-17 in Mississippi was the highest in the nation and more than five times the rate in New Hampshire, which had the lowest rate. |
Teenage birth rates* by State, 2020
| State |
Ages 15-19 |
Ages 15-17 |
Ages 18-19 |
| United States |
15.4 |
6.3 |
28.9 |
| Alabama |
24.8 |
10.2 |
46.4 |
| Alaska |
17.7 |
4.3 |
42.2 |
| Arizona |
16.6 |
7.2 |
30.3 |
| Arkansas |
27.8 |
10.8 |
54.3 |
| California |
11.0 |
4.6 |
20.7 |
| Colorado |
12.5 |
5.2 |
23.6 |
| Connecticut |
7.6 |
3.2 |
13.6 |
| Delaware |
14.6 |
6.1 |
26.4 |
| District of Columbia |
15.6 |
11.2 |
18.7 |
| Florida |
15.2 |
5.8 |
29.5 |
| Georgia |
18.2 |
7.7 |
34.1 |
| Hawaii |
13.0 |
4.5 |
26.6 |
| Idaho |
14.6 |
5.1 |
30.2 |
| Illinois |
13.6 |
5.4 |
26.1 |
| Indiana |
18.7 |
6.9 |
36.2 |
| Iowa |
13.3 |
5.1 |
24.9 |
| Kansas |
18.1 |
6.7 |
35.3 |
| Kentucky |
23.8 |
8.6 |
46.8 |
| Louisiana |
25.7 |
10.7 |
49.6 |
| Maine |
10.6 |
3.7 |
20.8 |
| Maryland |
13.1 |
6.0 |
23.7 |
| Massachusetts |
6.1 |
2.7 |
10.0 |
| Michigan |
13.5 |
5.4 |
25.5 |
| Minnesota |
9.1 |
3.5 |
17.9 |
| Mississippi |
27.9 |
12.0 |
51.9 |
| Missouri |
18.8 |
7.3 |
36.4 |
| Montana |
13.2 |
4.8 |
26.2 |
| Nebraska |
15.1 |
6.4 |
28.0 |
| Nevada |
16.8 |
6.3 |
35.4 |
| New Hampshire |
6.6 |
2.2 |
12.5 |
| New Jersey |
9.2 |
3.6 |
18.4 |
| New Mexico |
21.9 |
9.3 |
41.2 |
| New York |
10.0 |
4.1 |
18.3 |
| North Carolina |
17.3 |
6.9 |
31.7 |
| North Dakota |
13.7 |
5.7 |
24.7 |
| Ohio |
17.6 |
6.8 |
33.7 |
| Oklahoma |
25.0 |
10.1 |
48.1 |
| Oregon |
10.1 |
3.6 |
20.0 |
| Pennsylvania |
12.6 |
5.7 |
21.9 |
| Rhode Island |
9.4 |
4.6 |
14.4 |
| South Carolina |
19.3 |
8.0 |
35.5 |
| South Dakota |
18.7 |
8.6 |
33.9 |
| Tennessee |
23.3 |
9.0 |
45.9 |
| Texas |
22.4 |
9.8 |
42.2 |
| Utah |
10.8 |
4.1 |
21.5 |
| Vermont |
7.0 |
2.8 |
11.3 |
| Virginia |
13.1 |
5.2 |
24.2 |
| Washington |
11.3 |
4.3 |
22.3 |
| West Virginia |
22.5 |
9.2 |
42.7 |
| Wisconsin |
11.5 |
4.2 |
21.9 |
| Wyoming |
18.1 |
5.3 |
39.0 |
| Puerto Rico |
15.5 |
6.6 |
27.9 |
| Virgin Islands |
15.1 |
** |
33.6 |
| Guam |
33.0 |
8.6 |
67.8 |
| American Samoa |
NA |
NA |
NA |
| Northern Marianas |
17.9 |
** |
29.7 |
*The number of births per 1,000 females in age group.
** Too few cases to calculate a reliable rate.
[ Map version ]
[ CSV file ]
- The 2020 birth rate for teens ages 15-17 was 6.3; the teen birth rate in 21 states and District of Columbia was equal to or above the U.S. rate.
-
- The U.S. birth rate for teen mothers ages 15-17 fell 59% between 2011 and 2019.
- During this period, the birth rate for teen mothers ages 15-17 declined in every state, ranging from a decrease of 43% in South Dakota to a decrease of 70% in Oregon.
Internet citation: OJJDP Statistical Briefing Book. Online. Available: https://www.ojjdp.gov/ojstatbb/population/qa01304.asp?qaDate=2020.
Released on May 02, 2022. Data Source: Births: Final Data for 2020. National Vital Statistics Report, Vol. 70, No. 17.
[ PDF]. Hyattsville, Maryland: National Center for Health Statistics, 2021.
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