NEWPORT — Vermont has recorded the lowest fertility rate in the United States, according to a new study by the Birth Injury Lawyers Group, based on data from the National Center for Health Statistics.
The study, which examined fertility rates across all states from 2017 to 2021, found Vermont’s average rate at just 46.7 births per 1,000 women aged 15-44, well below the national average of 58.8.
The report also highlighted South Dakota as having the highest fertility rate during the same period, with 71.2 births per 1,000 women. Other states like North Dakota and Alaska also reported higher-than-average fertility rates, contrasting sharply with Vermont’s figures.
The fertility rates were determined by dividing the total number of live births in each state by the number of women of reproductive age, providing a clearer picture of birth trends over the five-year span. Vermont’s rate signifies a potential demographic challenge, reflecting broader national trends of declining fertility rates.
Bob Goldwater of the Birth Injury Lawyer Group commented on the nationwide trend, attributing the decline to factors such as increased access to birth control, lower child mortality rates, and enhanced educational opportunities for women.
He also pointed to the rising cost of living as a deterrent to starting families, which could particularly impact states like Vermont where the fertility rates are notably low.
This study sheds light on shifting demographic patterns that could influence future economic and social policies in Vermont and across the country.
