This statistic tracks the total number of births in the United States, adjusted for population growth. The birth rate is calculated as the count of live births in a geographic area or racial and ethnic group divided by the entire population — regardless of age or gender. Because of this, changes in the birth rate can reflect shifts unrelated to fertility or choices about having children. For example, having a larger population of older Americans might decrease the birth rate.
Note that birth rates by age are calculated differently, dividing total births within an age group by the number of women in that age group.
