More than half of American women in their prime childbearing years have not had children, according to a new study from the Carsey School of Public Policy at the University of New Hampshire.

The research shows that 52 percent of women aged 20-39 have not given birth as of 2024. Kenneth Johnson, senior demographer at Carsey, found that while there are 4 million more women in this age group compared to 2006, 7 million fewer have become mothers. This has resulted in 11.8 million fewer babies born over the past 17 years than expected based on previous fertility rates.

"These fertility and child-bearing decisions have implications for health care, schools, child-related businesses, and eventually for the labor force," Johnson says. 00:00/09:18 10

Johnson points to several factors contribu

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