Census ACS 2023 · 51 states
States With Lowest Birth Rates
States with the lowest birth rates tend to be older, more urban, and located in New England or the Pacific Northwest. Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine consistently rank at the bottom, reflecting higher median ages, smaller family sizes, and outmigration of younger adults. Low birth rates combined with aging populations create unique demographic pressures: shrinking school enrollments, growing healthcare demand, potential labor shortages, and concerns about long-term population decline. Some of these states offset low birth rates with domestic or international migration, while others face genuine population stagnation. Understanding birth rate trends is essential for state-level planning around education funding, workforce development, and housing markets.
Key Findings
- 1Vermont leads with a birth rate per 1,000 population of 8.2 per 1,000, followed by New Hampshire (8.7 per 1,000) and Maine (8.8 per 1,000).
- 2The gap between #1 Vermont and #51 Utah (13.7 per 1,000) is 550.0 percentage points.
- 3The national median across all states is 11.0 per 1,000 (Virginia at the midpoint).
- 4The top 10 states are: Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Oregon, Rhode Island, West Virginia, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Illinois.
Full Ranking: States With Lowest Birth Rates
Source: Census ACS 2023 5-Year Estimates
| # | State | Birth Rate | Total Births | Median Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wyoming | 10.4 | 6,049 | 38.8 |
| 2 | Wisconsin | 10.2 | 60,049 | 40.1 |
| 3 | West Virginia | 9.5 | 16,929 | 42.7 |
| 4 | Washington | 10.8 | 83,333 | 38.2 |
| 5 | Virginia | 11 | 95,630 | 38.8 |
| 6 | Vermont | 8.2 | 5,316 | 43 |
| 7 | Utah | 13.7 | 45,768 | 31.7 |
| 8 | Texas | 13.1 | 389,741 | 35.5 |
| 9 | Tennessee | 11.8 | 82,265 | 38.9 |
| 10 | South Dakota | 12.5 | 11,201 | 37.7 |
| 11 | South Carolina | 11.1 | 57,820 | 40.1 |
| 12 | Rhode Island | 9.4 | 10,269 | 40.5 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | 10 | 130,252 | 40.9 |
| 14 | Oregon | 9.3 | 39,493 | 40.1 |
| 15 | Oklahoma | 12.1 | 48,332 | 36.9 |
| 16 | Ohio | 10.9 | 128,231 | 39.6 |
| 17 | North Dakota | 12.3 | 9,567 | 35.7 |
| 18 | North Carolina | 11.5 | 121,562 | 39.1 |
| 19 | New York | 10.5 | 207,774 | 39.6 |
| 20 | New Mexico | 10.2 | 21,614 | 39.2 |
| 21 | New Jersey | 11.1 | 102,893 | 40.1 |
| 22 | New Hampshire | 8.7 | 12,077 | 43.2 |
| 23 | Nevada | 10.6 | 33,193 | 38.9 |
| 24 | Nebraska | 12.4 | 24,345 | 37.1 |
| 25 | Montana | 10.1 | 11,175 | 40.2 |
| 26 | Missouri | 11.2 | 68,985 | 38.9 |
| 27 | Mississippi | 11.7 | 34,675 | 38.4 |
| 28 | Minnesota | 11.2 | 64,015 | 38.6 |
| 29 | Michigan | 10.2 | 102,321 | 40.1 |
| 30 | Massachusetts | 9.8 | 68,584 | 40 |
| 31 | Maryland | 11.1 | 68,782 | 39.3 |
| 32 | Maine | 8.8 | 12,093 | 44.8 |
| 33 | Louisiana | 12.2 | 56,479 | 37.8 |
| 34 | Kentucky | 11.6 | 52,315 | 39.1 |
| 35 | Kansas | 11.7 | 34,401 | 37.2 |
| 36 | Iowa | 11.4 | 36,506 | 38.6 |
| 37 | Indiana | 11.7 | 79,649 | 38 |
| 38 | Illinois | 10.1 | 128,350 | 38.9 |
| 39 | Idaho | 11.8 | 22,391 | 37.1 |
| 40 | Hawaii | 10.7 | 15,535 | 40.6 |
| 41 | Georgia | 11.7 | 126,130 | 37.4 |
| 42 | Florida | 10.2 | 224,433 | 42.6 |
| 43 | District of Columbia | 12 | 8,075 | 34.9 |
| 44 | Delaware | 10.8 | 10,816 | 41.5 |
| 45 | Connecticut | 9.8 | 35,332 | 41.2 |
| 46 | Colorado | 10.7 | 62,383 | 37.5 |
| 47 | California | 10.7 | 419,104 | 37.6 |
| 48 | Arkansas | 11.7 | 35,471 | 38.4 |
| 49 | Arizona | 10.8 | 78,547 | 38.8 |
| 50 | Alaska | 12.8 | 9,359 | 35.6 |
| 51 | Alabama | 11.5 | 58,149 | 39.3 |
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
Vermont has the highest birth rate per 1,000 population at 8.2 per 1,000, according to Census ACS 2023 data. New Hampshire and Maine round out the top three.
Utah has the lowest birth rate per 1,000 population at 13.7 per 1,000. Texas is second-lowest at 13.1 per 1,000.
The median across all 51 states is 11.0 per 1,000. 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.