Health Feb 06 U.S. births dropped last year, suggesting the 2024 uptick was short-lived By Mike Stobbe, Associated Press
Health Jul 30 Watch 9:37 A look inside the pronatalism movement encouraging Americans to have more children The U.S. fertility rate reached an all-time low in 2024, according to the CDC. This trend has sparked fear among many on the right, from Elon Musk to Donald Trump, who believe Americans should have more babies. Sarah Varney looks… By Sarah Varney, Rachel Wellford
Nation May 16 What would help families have more babies? Here's what readers said PBS News asked readers to share their thoughts on having children and incentivizing childbirth — and more than 900 people responded. Here's what they said. By Hannah Grabenstein, Vivian Hoang
Nation May 09 So you want to increase your country's birth rate? Experts say it's tough As the Trump administration floats potential incentives to bring up the U.S. birth rate, experts tell PBS News that increasing a country’s birth rate is a heavy lift — if it’s possible at all. By Vivian Hoang, Hannah Grabenstein
Nation Sep 07 Watch 8:27 Americans navigate family planning amid concerns about finances and the planet's future The U.S. birth rate hit a record low in 2023, but data suggests that over the past 30 years, the number of adults who want to have children has remained relatively stable. So why aren’t more Americans having children or… By Ali Rogin, Satvi Sunkara
Jan 17 China's population declines for 1st time in decades By Ken Moritsugu, Associated Press The reported decline is adding to pressure on leaders to keep the Chinese economy growing despite an aging workforce and at a time of rising tension with the U.S. Continue reading
Jul 17 Watch 6:19 What we know about the economic effects of limiting access to abortion By Ali Rogin, Claire Mufson In addition to the moral and political debates over abortion access, there is an economic dimension. For people living in states without access to abortions, the financial consequences of a pregnancy can be long lasting. PBS News Weekend’s Ali Rogin… Continue watching
May 13 The U.S. birth rate began dropping years before the pandemic. Here's why By Courtney Vinopal Even as the U.S. economy turns a corner, several women told the PBS NewsHour that the pandemic exacerbated already-existing anxieties they had about raising children in America, and they’re not certain when they’ll feel equipped to support a family. Continue reading
May 11 China adds few babies, loses workers as its 1.4 billion people age By Joe McDonald, Huizhong Wu, Associated Press The number of working-age people in China fell over the past decade while the population barely grew, adding to strains in an aging society. Continue reading
Dec 30 U.S. had its slowest population growth rate in a century By Mike Schneider, Associated Press Declining births, increasing deaths and the slowdown of international migration made the past year’s population growth rate in the United States the slowest in a century, according to figures released Monday by the U.S. Census Bureau. Continue reading