Teen Mothers

Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), Serving Children, Families, and Communities

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Teen Mothers

Q:	What is the teen birth rate and how has it changed in recent years?
A:	In 2005, the birth rate for women ages 15–17 was 21 births for every 1,000 females in that age group, 45% below the 1970 rate.

Births per 1,000 females in age group, 1970-2005

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The birth rate for older juvenile females (ages 15–17) fell 21% between 1970 and 1986, and then increased over the next 5 years back to its 1970 level.
The birth rate for young adult females (ages 18 and 19) dropped even more than the rate for older juveniles between 1970 and 1986, falling 31%. Although the rate for young adults also then increased to a peak in 1991, this peak was far below the 1970 level. Similar to older juveniles, the birth rate for young adults in 2005 was 42% below its 1970 level.
The 2005 birth rate for 15–17-year-olds was about one-third the rate for 18–19-year-olds.
In 2005, females ages 15–17 accounted for 32% of all births to teen mothers under the age of 20.

Internet citation: OJJDP Statistical Briefing Book. Online. Available: http://ojjdp.ncjrs.gov/ojstatbb/population/qa01301.asp?qaDate=2005. Released on December 13, 2007.

Data Source: Martin, J.A., Hamilton, B.E., Sutton, PD, et al. Births: Final Data for 2005. National Vital Statistics Report, Vol. 56, No. 06. [PDF]. Hyattsville, Maryland: National Center for Health Statistics, 2007.