In the United States, births are at their lowest level in 32 years

The birth rate in the United States has reached last year's historic low for teenage girls and young women, with whom the national figure has fallen to levels not seen in 32 years.

The interim report, released Wednesday based on more than 99% of birth registrations in the country, revealed that there were 3,788 million births last year. This is the fourth consecutive year of declining birth rate, its lowest rate since 1986 and a surprise for many experts given the good state of the economy.

In the United States, the fertility rate of 1.7 children per woman has decreased by 2%, which means that the current generation does not produce enough babies to replace. The fertility rate is a hypothetical estimate based on projections of birth rates.

What is not clear is whether American women delay their motherhood or dismiss it altogether..

If the trend continues, according to experts, a shortage of manpower could occur even in the geriatric care sector, which is extremely important for the post-war generation entering old age.

"I'm still predicting an increase in the birth rate, but that does not happen," said Kenneth M. Johnson, demographer at the Carsey School of Public Policy at the University of New Hampshire.

He estimates that 5.7 million babies would have been born in the last decade.

"There are many clbadrooms garden of children who were empty, "said Johnson, who has not been involved in the recent study.

Other experts seem indifferent and predict that young women will eventually have their baby. The only two demographic groups with a slightly higher birth rate in 2018 were women aged 35 to 40 and women aged 40 to 45.

"Our fertility rate is still quite high for a rich country," said Caroline Sten Hartnett, demographer at the University of South Carolina.

American women are starting to have children before those of other developed countries, according to other research. In other countries, the birth rate is also declining.

Young Americans want to have children, but they do not think they have the financial stability to do so, said Karen Benjamin Guzzo, a family affairs specialist at Bowling Green University in Ohio.

The United States could take more steps to facilitate the creation of families if they approve better maternity leave and child care subsidies, Guzzo said.