New York (ECN) - More babies were born in 2007 than any year in history, including the "baby boomer" years, new government figures show. About 4.3 million babies were born in the United States, beating the previous record of 1957 during the peak time of the baby boom.
Babies being born in the years leading up to 2007 show increases, but not as significant as the growth of the years 1946 through 1964, the baby boom years. The difference being that during the 1950's, more babies were being born to fewer women.
Although the current economic situation is questioning people's decision to have babies, American society has undergone changes since the baby booming 1950's, which when these factors are taken into account, explains the rise in the year of 2007.
A trend that had begun to rise years ago, unwed women having children had reached an all-time high at 40 percent. It has become more common for single women to have babies. Gary Hoppenstand, editor of the Journal of Popular Culture said, "Some women may be having babies because they have not found Mr. Right but are mindful of their ticking biological clocks. And celebrities make unmarried motherhood more acceptable."
The National Center for Health Statistics reported a 2.3 percent age-related increase for women between the ages of 30-34 who gave birth to 6,525 babies, compared to 4,486 babies born to women aged 25-29, while the number of women aged between 20-24 who gave birth in 2007 was 2,238.
It has become more socially acceptable in recent years than in previous years for couples who live together yet choose to not marry to raise families.
Birthrates for all ethnic groups increased in 2007, the largest being among Hispanic women, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Government statistics show the number of teenagers having babies rose for the second year in a row, following a 14 year decline. More than 445,000 babies were born to girls aged 15 through 19 in 2007.
The National Center for Health Statistics reports that the state of Utah was number one for the highest birth rate in the U.S. at 20.8 births for every 1,000 residents. The state with the least amount of babies being born in 2007 was Vermont with 10.5 births. The national average was 14.3 out of every 1,000 residents.
Many experts believe that birth rates are now declining and will continue to do so, considering the economic down-turn that began in late 2007.
