New stats from the CDC show women in the U.S. are waiting longer than ever to become moms for the first time. According to a fresh National Vital Statistics Report, the average age of first-time mothers rose from 26.6 in 2016 to 27.5 in 2023. “This analysis demonstrates that the shift toward older motherhood occurred across birth orders, among nearly all racial and ethnic groups, and in both urban and rural areas,” the report confirms.
Asian women saw the most significant jump, from an average of 30.1 to 31.5 years. On the other end, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander women still have the youngest average at 25.2 years.
And it’s not just first babies—ages rose for second and third births too, nudging the overall average age of childbirth up from 28.7 to 29.6 years.
Experts link this trend to higher child care costs, changing social norms, and career ambitions. In 2022, families shelled out $6,552 to $15,600 a year for child care, which eats up as much as 16% of household income.
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