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A pregnant woman in a pink top sits across from a healthcare provider in a white coat who holds up an ultrasound image during a prenatal appointment.

How Does a Decline in Birth Rate Impact the Future of the U.S.?

April 20, 2026

How Does a Decline in Birth Rate Impact the Future of the U.S.?

The U.S. is having fewer babies than ever before — and it's not just a personal choice. Explore what a record-low birth rate means for the economy, Social Security, and the future of the country.

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The U.S. fertility rate is at an all-time low, according to recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Researchers say this is part of a larger downward trend. Since 2007, the number of Americans having babies has dropped 23%, well below the replacement level, meaning not enough are being born to replace those who die.

View the transcript of the story.

NOTE: If you are short on time, watch the video and complete this See, Think, Wonder activity: What did you notice? What did the story make you think? What would you want to learn more about?

Warm-Up Questions

  1. How much has the number of people in the U.S. having babies dropped since 2007?
  2. Who is Brian Mann, and what is his background?
  3. What are some of the reasons that people in the U.S. may be having fewer children now compared to the past, according to Mann?
  4. When will the population of the U.S. begin to shrink if birth trends don't change?
  5. Why might the declining birthrate impact the economy in the future?

Essential Questions

In this segment, Brian Mann says that unless birth rates or immigration rates change, the U.S. population will begin to shrink.

  • What do you think would be some of the impacts of a shrinking U.S. population?
  • Which do you think would be easier to change — increasing immigration to address declining populations or encouraging families to have more children? What do you think the federal government might do to address the negative impacts of shrinking populations?

Media literacy: Take a look at the infographic below. Why do you think this information was included? What are some characteristics that the states mentioned have in common?

In this segment, Brian Mann says that unless birth rates or immigration rates change, the U.S. population will begin to shrink. What do you think would be some of the impacts of a shrinking U.S. population? Which do you think would be easier to change — increasing immigration to address declining populations or encouraging families to have more children? What do you think the federal government might do to address the negative impacts of shrinking populations? Media literacy: Take a look at the infographic below. Why do you think this information was included? What are some characteristics that the states mentioned have in common?

What Students Can Do

Learn more about birthrates and how the U.S. compares to other countries. First, read the article, "The U.S. fertility rate reached a new low in 2024, CDC data shows."

  • As a class, discuss — what details about the history of birth rates in the U.S. surprised you the most?
  • Next, use data from the World Bank to compare U.S. birthrates to other countries. Does it seem higher or lower than most? Why do you think this is?

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Republished with permission from PBS News Hour Classroom.

PBS News Hour Classroom
PBS News Hour Classroom helps teachers and students identify the who, what, where and why-it-matters of the major national and international news stories. The site combines the best of News Hour's reliable, trustworthy news program with lesson plans developed specifically for... See More
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