More women gave birth in 2021 than in 2020, according to a new analysis from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The CDC says there were more than 3,600,000 births in the US in 2021, a 1% increase from 2020. However, this is still below pre-pandemic levels, as 2020 saw a 4% drop compared to 2019.
The study also notes that in 2021, the age of those giving birth for the first time has increased. The average age of mothers giving birth for the first time was 27.3 years, which is a record. This is up from 27.1 in 2020.
According to the CDC, the teen birth rate declined in 29 states, while the rest were unchanged. Maine’s dental birth rate declined the most, at 24%.
of any state, the study notes.
Most new mothers have given birth to one child. However, there were more than 114,000 births of twins. According to the study, fewer than 3,000 pairs of triplets or higher order multiples were born in 2021.
Giving birth in the US is not cheap. That costs about $19,000, according to the Peterson-Kaiser Family Foundation’s health system tracking system. Health insurance usually covers some of these costs.