Teen Pregnancy Prevention

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Friends of Hope
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Simpsonville, SC 29681-9998

In 2017, a total of 194,377 babies were born to women aged 15–19 years, for a birth rate of 18.8 per 1,000 women in this age group. This is another record low for U.S. teens and a drop of 7% from 2016. Birth rates fell 10% for women aged 15–17 years and 6% for women aged 18–19 years.

Although reasons for the declines are not totally clear, evidence suggests these declines are due to more teens abstaining from sexual activity, and more teens who are sexually active using birth control than in previous years.

Still, the U.S. teen pregnancy rate is substantially higher than in other western industrialized nations, and racial/ethnic and geographic disparities in teen birth rates persist.

In 2017, the birth rates of Hispanic teens (28.9) and non-Hispanic black teens (27.5) were more than two times higher than the rate for non-Hispanic white teens (13.2). The birth rate of American Indian/Alaska Native teens (32.9) was highest among all race/ethnicities. Geographic differences in teen birth rates persist, both within and across states. Among some states with low overall teen birth rates, some counties have high teen birth rates.

Every young person—no matter who they are, where they live or what their economic status might be—should have the power to decide if, when and under what circumstances to get pregnant and have a child.

Support the high-impact program, policy and advocacy work of Friends of Hope, the campaign to end unplanned pregnancy, with a donation today. Invest in a young person’s ability to get informed, take control, and advocate for themselves—and to protect the amazing life opportunities that lie ahead. Please donate today.

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