Rising Trends in Maternal Age at First Birth in the United States (2016–2023)

A recent report based on data from the National Vital Statistics System highlights a continued increase in the average age of mothers at their first childbirth in the United States from 2016 through 2023. According to the analysis by Andrea D. Brown, Ph.D., M.P.H., and colleagues, the mean age of women at their first birth rose from 26.6 years in 2016 to 27.5 years in 2023. Similar upward trends were observed for higher-order births, with the average age increasing by nearly a year for second and third or more births.

This trend persisted across different racial and ethnic groups, with increases ranging from 0.4 to 1.4 years. Additionally, urbanicity influenced maternal age, with mothers in large metropolitan areas having the highest average age at first birth (28.5 years), while those in non-core rural counties had the lowest (24.8 years). Overall, the data underscores a long-term pattern of delayed childbirth in the country.

These findings underscore societal shifts toward later family planning and may have implications for healthcare, socioeconomic factors, and family dynamics. The authors note that by 2023, first-time mothers were nearly one year older on average compared to 2016, reflecting ongoing changes in reproductive behavior.

The study emphasizes the importance of monitoring such demographic trends to inform healthcare policies and resource allocation for maternal and child health. The full report is available through the CDC’s National Vital Statistics Reports.