Texas birth rates fall faster than U.S. average

TEXAS, USA — Texas birth rates have been falling in recent years, mirroring a nationwide trend but at a faster pace than the U.S. average.

Advocacy group Children at Risk cites factors such as rising child care costs, limited health care access, unstable housing and a lack of paid family leave as barriers that can make it harder for families to have children.

Between 2007 and 2019, Texas saw a nearly 21% drop in birth rates, according to the group.

Kim Kofron, senior director of education for Children at Risk, said the decline is not just about changing personal preferences — it also raises concerns for the state’s future workforce, economy and schools.

"We're projected to see a decline of 2.7 million children across the country by 2031, in our K-12 system," Kofron said. "So school dis