Karol Darmoros
Birth Rate Declines
According to the National Catholic Register, last year the fertility rate in the US fell to 53.1 births per 1,000 women aged 15–44. Approximately 3.6 million children were born, 1 percent fewer than the previous year. Since its peak in 2007, this rate has decreased by about 23 percent. These data are consistent with a downward trend that has been ongoing for almost two decades.
Differences Among Women
A key difference concerns marital status. In 2023, the birth rate among married women was 81.6 per 1,000, while among unmarried women it was 36.4. Although declines affect both groups, they are more pronounced among women not in a marriage. In 2017, the rates were 87.4 and 41, respectively.
The Problem of Marriage
As Leah Libresco Sargeant, a Catholic author focusing on family topics, tells the National Catholic Register, “the data weren’t all that surprising,” but “it’s often not properly emphasized that we don’t really have a fertility collapse; we have a decline in fertility among unmarried individuals.” This distinction points to a deeper cultural problem.
Lifestyle Change
More and more young people are postponing marriage, focusing first on education and career stability. This is indicated, among others, by studies from the Pew Research Center. As a result, the average age for first marriage is increasing – in 2025, it was 30.8 years for men and 28.4 for women. 50 years ago, it was 23.5 and 21.1 years, respectively. “The more you doubt it, the less reason you have to prioritize marriage,” Sargeant emphasizes.
Impact on the Church
The decline in marriages has consequences for Catholic communities. The number of weddings is decreasing, and parishes and Catholic schools are experiencing less family involvement. Experts indicate that it’s not just about economic issues, as cultural factors are the main reason for postponing the decision to marry. “It’s not just about money. It’s about whether marriage is still seen as an important stage of life,” Sargeant notes.
Broader Context
Meanwhile, Patrick Brown from the Ethics and Public Policy Center points out that contemporary society is changing its view of the family. “We live in an increasingly affluent society,” he says, adding that the decision to have children today involves greater choices and costs. The expert notes that there is no single cause for the declining fertility rate.
Challenge and Hope
However, there is a glimmer of hope. Children born today are more likely to be born within marriage than in previous decades. For the Church, this means a need to strengthen the vision of marriage as a vocation. “As a married woman, I think marriage is a wonderful thing. It shouldn’t be something that has to be forcibly promoted. We should invite people to this stage of life with genuine optimism,” says Sargeant.
