Pregnancy statistics 2024

Pregnancy is a very common occurrence and results in around 140 million babies born around the globe each year

By Rebecca Rovenstine | Updated on Jan. 24, 2024

The creation of life is truly incredible. A woman’s body having the ability to grow a tiny human from only an egg and sperm is nothing short of a miracle. Despite being such a wonder, pregnancy is very common, with babies being born daily. Below, we’ll explore how common pregnancy is in the United States and worldwide, along with other statistics related to childbearing.

What is pregnancy?

“Pregnancy is the period when a woman’s body carries a baby growing inside her,” explained Dr. Sony Sherpa, a holistic physician at Nature’s Rise, an organic wellness company. “When a woman conceives, one of the sperm from her partner successfully fertilizes her egg, and the fertilized egg implants itself in the uterus, resulting in pregnancy.”

A full-term pregnancy will take an average of 40 weeks before the woman gives birth. This is divided into three stages: the first trimester, the second trimester, and the third trimester.

How common is pregnancy?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there were 3.6 million births registered in the United States in 2021. This was a 1% increase from 2020 numbers. (CDC, 2021)
In the United States, women ages 30 to 34 had the highest fertility rates in 2019, a shift from previous years, where women ages 25 to 29 had the highest fertility rates. (United States Census Bureau, 2022)
Eighty-six percent of women ages 40 to 44 are mothers. (Pew Research Center, 2018)
It is estimated that 6% to 8% of pregnancies have high-risk complications. (USCF Health, 2023)

Pregnancy statistics worldwide

Each year around 140 million babies are born around the globe. (The World Counts, 2023)
Between 2010 and 2014, it is estimated that 44% of all pregnancies worldwide were unintended. (The Lancet Global Health, 2018)
In 2021, the country with the highest birth rate was Niger, followed by Somalia. (The World Bank, 2020)
In 2021, South Korea and Hong Kong were tied to be the countries with the lowest birth rates. (The World Bank, 2020).
In 2020, there were 223 maternal deaths for every 100,000 live births, which is down from 227 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2015 and 339 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2000 (United Nations, 2023)
It’s estimated that 23 million miscarriages happen around the world each year, or around 44 pregnancy losses each minute. (The Lancet, 2021)

Pregnancy statistics in the U.S.

Vaginal deliveries were the most common method of delivery in 2021, with 2.48 million women giving birth vaginally. (National Center for Health Statistics, 2023)
In 2021, 32.1% of all deliveries were done via Cesarean. (National Center for Health Statistics, 2023)
Of the pregnant women in 2021, 114,161 gave birth to twins, 2,933 gave birth to triplets, and 148 gave birth to quadruplets or more than four children at the same time. (National Center for Health Statistics, 2023)
In 2019, 2.1% of pregnancies that resulted in birth were done via assisted reproductive technology (ART), such as in vitro fertilization (IVF). (CDC, 2021)
Forty percent of pregnant women who gave birth were unmarried in 2021. (CDC, 2023)

Pregnancy statistics by age

The mean age of women during their first birth was 27.3 in 2021. (CDC, 2023)
The fertility rate (number of live births) of women ages 15 to 44 in the U.S. was 56 per 1,000 women in 2020. (March of Dimes, 2023)
The percentage of live births based on age in 2018 to 2020 were as follows: 47.5% of women were ages 20 to 29, 44.4% were ages 30 to 39, 4.6% were under 20 years of age, and 3.5% were 40 years or older. (March of Dimes, 2023)

Teen pregnancy statistics

It was estimated that 14% of women gave birth before the age of 18 in 2021 worldwide. (UNICEF, 2022)
Teen pregnancy occurring in women ages 15 to 19 has been in decline since 1991. In 2018, 17.4 per 1,000 teen females gave birth, which declined to 16.7 per 1,000 teen females in 2019. (CDC, 2021)
Around 90% of women who did not give birth as a teen graduate from high school, but only 50% of teen mothers obtain a high school diploma by their 22nd birthday. (CDC, 2021)
Low and middle-income countries had an estimated 21 million teen pregnancies in 2019, with only 50% of these pregnancies being intended. (World Health Organization, 2022)

Pregnancy statistics by race

Between 2018 and 2020, the breakdown of live births by race in the United States was as follows: 52.1% were White, 23.7% were Hispanic, 15.2 were Black, 6.8 were Asian or Pacific Islander, and 0.8% were American Indian or Alaska Natives. (March of Dimes, 2022)
Compared to White women, Black, American Indian, and Alaska Native women have higher instances of pregnancy-related deaths. (Kaiser Family Foundation, 2022)
Teen birth rates are almost double for Latina teens and African American teens, with 24 births per 1,000 teen girls, compared to non-Hispanic White teens, who had 10 births per 1,000 teen girls. (Power to Decide, 2023)

Pregnancy statistics by state

In 2021, Arkansas had the highest teen birth rate, followed by Mississippi and Louisiana. (CDC, 2022)
New Hampshire had the lowest teen birth rate in 2021, followed by Massachusetts and Vermont. (CDC, 2022)
California had the most completed pregnancies in 2021, with over 420,000 births. (CDC, 2023)
States with the highest fertility rates among women ages 15 to 44 in 2021 were South Dakota with 68.6 births per 1,000 women, North Dakota with 66.7 births per 1,000 women, and Alaska with 64.9 births per 1,000 women. (CDC, 2023)

Common pregnancy complications

Pregnant women may experience the following maternal health complications when pregnant:

Gestational Diabetes
Preterm labor
Pre-eclampsia
Placental abruption
Cesarean delivery

Dr. Sherpa explained, “Gestational diabetes occurs when a woman’s blood sugar levels become too high due to her body not producing enough insulin during pregnancy.”

Preterm labor happens if a woman gives birth before 37 weeks of gestation, often resulting in low birth weight.

“Preeclampsia is a pregnancy-induced condition marked by high blood pressure and signs of damage to another organ system, such as the liver or kidneys,” said Dr. Sherpa. “It can be life-threatening to both the mother and the baby and should be managed promptly by medical professionals.”

Placental abruption means that the placenta has become unattached to the uterus before birth.

Cesarean delivery, or a C-section, is a way to deliver a baby if vaginal delivery is not an option or unsafe for the mother.

Dr. Sherpa also noted, “Infections during pregnancy are common and can lead to complications, so it’s important to take steps to reduce your risk of infection.” This includes practicing good hygiene, cooking meat fully, and talking to your healthcare professional about vaccinations, among other things.

The cost of pregnancy

Kaiser Family Foundation found that between 2018 to 2020, those with private health insurance plans had claims that averaged $18,865 for pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum care. (KFF, 2022)
The same analysis found that the average out-of-pocket costs paid by these women were $2,854. (KFF, 2022)

Pregnancy prevention

Pregnancy can be prevented through the use of contraceptives. Common birth control methods include:

Birth control pills
Condoms
Intrauterine devices (IUDs)
Vaginal ring
Skin patch
Contraceptive injection
Abstinence
Natural family planning

Abortion may also be an option to terminate pregnancy, depending on where you live.

Pregnancy FAQs

What age is the highest pregnancy rate?

According to the March of Dimes, women between the ages of 20 to 29 have the highest pregnancy rates.

What percent of pregnancies are high-risk?

UCSF Health estimated that 6% to 8% of pregnancies have high-risk complications.

Which pregnancy category is the riskiest?

Various factors could cause a high-risk pregnancy, but most can be managed by talking with your healthcare provider. These risk factors include:

Age: Being under the age of 17 or over the age of 35
Chronic conditions: This could include diabetes, autoimmune diseases, high blood pressure, obesity, and thyroid disease
Lifestyle factors: Smoking, lack of exercise, drinking alcohol

What percentage of people get pregnant?

According to Pew Research Center, 86% of women are mothers by age 40 to 44.

How many pregnancies are there per year?

Per the CDC, there were 3.6 million births registered in the United States in 2021.

How many babies can a woman safely have?

The number of pregnancies that a woman can have depends on each woman, her risk factors, prenatal care, and her ability to give birth. Business Insider stated that a research study found that women, on average, could have around 15 babies in their lifetime.