The US’ birth rate has fallen to a record low, ending the uptick in new babies that began during the pandemic.

The CDC says just more than 3,591,000 babies were born in the U.S. in 2023, down 2% from the more than 3,667,000 born in 2022. 

The birth rate is so low right now that it’s below what is needed to replace deaths of previous generations since 1971.