America’s birth rate has plunged to its lowest level ever, with the CDC reporting fewer than 1.6 children per woman in 2024.

More women are waiting longer to have children or are never taking that step at all. But researchers say there's no reason to be alarmed.

The U.S. fertility rate dropped to an all-time low to 1.6 children per woman in 2024, according to data released Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The country’s fertility rate has been declining for decades,