2005 Final Birth Data & 2006 Preliminary Birth Data
The National Center for Health Statistics has just released preliminary birth data for 2006 and final birth data for 2005. The preliminary birth data is the first set of birth data released for 2006, and is based on 99.2% of all births. We expect the final birth data for 2006 to be released in early 2008. The national teen birth rate increased three percent between 2005 and 2006 -- the first increase in 14 years.
The full report can be found on the NCHS website at http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/pubs/pubd/nvsr/nvsr.htm.
The National Campaign plans to update the national and state data section of our website by the end of the week at www.teenpregnancy.org.
Below are some key findings:
Overall Teen Birth Rates
* For 2006, the preliminary birth rate for girls increased for the first time in 14 years (since 1991).
* The rate in 2006 is 41.9 per 1,000 teen girls (aged 15-19), up from a final birth rate of 40.5 per 1,000 in 2005.
* Given the recent increase in teen births, the teen birth rate only decreased 32% between 1991 and 2006. There was an increase of 3% between 2005 and 2006.
Rates by Age
* The preliminary birth rate for girls aged 10-14 in 2006 is 0.6 per 1,000, down 57% from 1991 levels. Please note that this is the only age group for which the teen birth rate decreased between 2005 and 2006 (14% decrease); from 0.7 per 1,000 in 2005 to 0.6 per 1,000 in 2006.
* The preliminary birth rate for girls aged 15-17 in 2006 is 22 per 1,000, up 3% from a record low of 21.4 in 2005 (down 43% from 1991 levels). Note that in the past, the decrease in the teen birth rate among teen girls age 15-17 has been the driving force in the declining birth rates.
* The preliminary birth rate for girls aged 18-19 in 2006 is 73 per 1,000, up 4% from 69.9 per 1,000 in 2005 (down 22% from 1991 levels).
Rates by Race/Ethnicity (aged 15-19)
Teen birth rates increased from 2005 to 2006 for all racial/ethnic groups except for Asian or Pacific Islander teens. When separated by age group: among teens 15-17 teen birth rates increased for all racial/ethnic groups between 2005 and 2006 except for Hispanic teens (there was no change between 2005 and 2006 among American Indian or Alaska Native teens); among teens 18-19 teen birth rates increased for all racial/ethnic groups except for Asian or Pacific Islander teens:
* The 2006 preliminary birth rate for non-Hispanic White teens is 26.6 per 1,000, up 3% from 25.9 in 2005.
* The 2006 preliminary birth rate for non-Hispanic Black teens is 63.7 per 1,000, up 5% from 60.9 in 2005.
* The 2006 preliminary birth rate for American Indian teens is 54.7 per 1,000, up 4% from 52.7 in 2005.
* The 2006 preliminary birth rate for Asian/Pacific Islander teens is 16.7 per 1,000, down 2% from 17.0 in 2005.
* The 2006 preliminary birth rate for Hispanic teens is 83.0 per 1,000, up 2% from 81.7 in 2005.
Nonmarital Births
* In 2006, the proportion on nonmarital births reached a record high. 84.4% of births to teens 15-19 are nonmarital, up from 83.5% in 2005. This is a total of 372,826 nonmarital births to teens. Among teens under age 15 the proportion is 98.3%; to those 15-17 it is 91.9%; and to those 18-19 it is 80.5%
* The overall percent of births to unmarried women in 2006 is 38.5% up from 36.9% in 2005
State-Specific Information
* Although state teen birth data are not available in the preliminary birth report, there is information on the proportion of births to teens by state. In 2006, Mississippi has the highest proportion of births to mothers under age 20 (16.4%), followed by New Mexico (15.7%). The overall proportion of births to mothers under 20 was 10.4% in the U.S.
* The 2005 Final Birth Data report has information about birth rates by state: Texas and New Mexico have the highest teen birth rate: 61.6 births per 1,000 teens. New Hampshire has the lowest teen birth rate at 17.9 births per 1,000 teens.