America has baby shortage as US births drop to lowest in over 40 years

The number of births in the US fell to the lowest level in over 40 years, with 3.596 million births in 2023, a 2% decline from 2022. High healthcare costs, political, economic, and climate concerns, and prioritization of education over parenthood have contributed to this trend. The total fertility rate stands at 1.6 births per woman.