The average age of first-time mothers continues to rise. See charts

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, women in the United States are increasingly choosing to delay motherhood compared to previous decades. More than twenty years ago, the average age for a first-time mother was 24.9. Today, that figure has reached a record high of 27.5 for the average woman or birthing person.

Researchers have identified the decline in teen pregnancies as a primary driver of this shift. In 2023, the birth rate for teenagers between the ages of 15 and 19 fell to 13.2 births per 1,000 women, marking a 3% decline from the prior year. Data from the CDC indicates that the teen birth rate has consistently trended downward since 1991, with the only exceptions occurring in 2006 and 2007.

Here’s how the average age of mothers has changed over the years:

Why are people waiting longer to have kids?

Women are prioritizing higher education and their careers, leading to a delay in motherhood.

Data from the CDC shows that women who had their first child at 30 or older were more likely to have a bachelor’s degree. Over 40% of first-time mothers in this age range had a bachelor’s degree or higher.

Financial pressures, such as the rising cost of living and expensive childcare, have prompted many women and birthing people to postpone starting a family. Additionally, it has become more common for individuals to wait longer before getting married or finding a partner.

In some instances, fertility options for those struggling to conceive are becoming more accessible. In vitro fertilization, or IVF, is a type of fertility treatment that involves retrieving eggs, manually combining them with sperm in a lab and placing the fertilized eggs inside the uterus. According to previous reporting from USA TODAY, more states are mandating private insurance companies cover fertility treatment, making the process financially accessible to more women in their 40s.

Between 2021 and 2022, the birth rate among women ages 40 to 44 rose 4%, according to a CDC report. During the same time period, the birth rate rose 12% for women 45 and older.

Average age of parents varies by race

Asian women and Pacific Islander women have the highest average age of first-time mothers, compared to all other races American Indian and Alaska Native women have the lowest average age of first-time mothers at 23 and 24, respectively