Census ACS 2023 · 51 states
States With Highest Unmarried Birth Rate
The share of births to unmarried mothers varies widely across states, reflecting differences in marriage rates, cultural norms, socioeconomic conditions, and demographics. Nationally, about 40% of births occur to unmarried mothers, up from 28% in 1990. Southern states and those with higher poverty rates tend to rank highest, while states in the Mountain West and upper Midwest with strong marriage cultures rank lowest. This metric has become less stigmatized over time as cohabitation has become more common — many unmarried parents are in stable partnerships. Note: California does not report marital status on birth certificates and is excluded from this ranking.
Key Findings
- 1Louisiana leads with a unmarried birth percentage of 0.5%, followed by Mississippi (0.5%) and New Mexico (0.5%).
- 2The gap between #1 Louisiana and #51 California (0.0%) is 54.7 percentage points.
- 3The national median across all states is 0.4% (Missouri at the midpoint).
- 4The top 10 states are: Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Nevada, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Arkansas.
Full Ranking: States With Highest Unmarried Birth Rate
Source: Census ACS 2023 5-Year Estimates
| # | State | Unmarried % | Total Births | Birth Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wyoming | 32.5% | 6,049 | 10.4 |
| 2 | Wisconsin | 36.8% | 60,049 | 10.2 |
| 3 | West Virginia | 45.1% | 16,929 | 9.5 |
| 4 | Washington | 31.6% | 83,333 | 10.8 |
| 5 | Virginia | 34.8% | 95,630 | 11 |
| 6 | Vermont | 36.8% | 5,316 | 8.2 |
| 7 | Utah | 20.3% | 45,768 | 13.7 |
| 8 | Texas | 41.7% | 389,741 | 13.1 |
| 9 | Tennessee | 42.4% | 82,265 | 11.8 |
| 10 | South Dakota | 35.8% | 11,201 | 12.5 |
| 11 | South Carolina | 45.0% | 57,820 | 11.1 |
| 12 | Rhode Island | 42.9% | 10,269 | 9.4 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | 38.9% | 130,252 | 10 |
| 14 | Oregon | 37.6% | 39,493 | 9.3 |
| 15 | Oklahoma | 43.8% | 48,332 | 12.1 |
| 16 | Ohio | 42.3% | 128,231 | 10.9 |
| 17 | North Dakota | 31.2% | 9,567 | 12.3 |
| 18 | North Carolina | 40.7% | 121,562 | 11.5 |
| 19 | New York | 37.9% | 207,774 | 10.5 |
| 20 | New Mexico | 52.6% | 21,614 | 10.2 |
| 21 | New Jersey | 33.4% | 102,893 | 11.1 |
| 22 | New Hampshire | 29.3% | 12,077 | 8.7 |
| 23 | Nevada | 47.9% | 33,193 | 10.6 |
| 24 | Nebraska | 34.1% | 24,345 | 12.4 |
| 25 | Montana | 31.5% | 11,175 | 10.1 |
| 26 | Missouri | 39.1% | 68,985 | 11.2 |
| 27 | Mississippi | 54.3% | 34,675 | 11.7 |
| 28 | Minnesota | 32.2% | 64,015 | 11.2 |
| 29 | Michigan | 39.4% | 102,321 | 10.2 |
| 30 | Massachusetts | 32.7% | 68,584 | 9.8 |
| 31 | Maryland | 40.7% | 68,782 | 11.1 |
| 32 | Maine | 36.0% | 12,093 | 8.8 |
| 33 | Louisiana | 54.7% | 56,479 | 12.2 |
| 34 | Kentucky | 42.5% | 52,315 | 11.6 |
| 35 | Kansas | 36.0% | 34,401 | 11.7 |
| 36 | Iowa | 35.2% | 36,506 | 11.4 |
| 37 | Indiana | 42.6% | 79,649 | 11.7 |
| 38 | Illinois | 39.4% | 128,350 | 10.1 |
| 39 | Idaho | 26.4% | 22,391 | 11.8 |
| 40 | Hawaii | 39.6% | 15,535 | 10.7 |
| 41 | Georgia | 45.5% | 126,130 | 11.7 |
| 42 | Florida | 46.1% | 224,433 | 10.2 |
| 43 | District of Columbia | 46.6% | 8,075 | 12 |
| 44 | Delaware | 47.3% | 10,816 | 10.8 |
| 45 | Connecticut | 37.1% | 35,332 | 9.8 |
| 46 | Colorado | 23.3% | 62,383 | 10.7 |
| 47 | California | 0.0% | 419,104 | 10.7 |
| 48 | Arkansas | 45.2% | 35,471 | 11.7 |
| 49 | Arizona | 44.9% | 78,547 | 10.8 |
| 50 | Alaska | 36.7% | 9,359 | 12.8 |
| 51 | Alabama | 45.3% | 58,149 | 11.5 |
Methodology
Rankings are based on American Community Survey (ACS) 2023 5-Year estimates from the US Census Bureau. All 50 states and the District of Columbia are included. The ACS surveys approximately 3.5 million households annually and provides detailed demographic, social, economic, and housing data. 5-Year estimates offer the most reliable data for state-level comparisons by averaging responses over a 60-month period. Percentages may not sum to 100% due to rounding.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Louisiana has the highest unmarried birth percentage at 0.5%, according to Census ACS 2023 data. Mississippi and New Mexico round out the top three.
California has the lowest unmarried birth percentage at 0.0%. Utah is second-lowest at 0.2%.
The median across all 51 states is 0.4%. Note that the national median and the state-level median are calculated differently — the state median represents the midpoint when all states are ranked.
This data comes from the American Community Survey (ACS) 2023 5-Year estimates published by the US Census Bureau. The ACS surveys approximately 3.5 million households annually and provides the most comprehensive demographic data available between decennial censuses.
Rankings are based on the latest available Census ACS data (currently 2023 5-Year estimates). The Census Bureau releases new ACS data annually, typically in September. Our data was last updated on April 12, 2026.
Rankings are based on American Community Survey (ACS) 2023 5-Year estimates from the US Census Bureau. All 50 states and the District of Columbia are included. The ACS surveys approximately 3.5 million households annually and provides detailed demographic, social, economic, and housing data. 5-Year estimates offer the most reliable data for state-level comparisons by averaging responses over a 60-month period. Percentages may not sum to 100% due to rounding.