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Juvenile Population Characteristics
Teen Mothers
Q: How do States vary in their birth rates for mothers ages 15-17?
A: In 2009, the birth rate for mothers ages 15–17 was nearly six times greater in the District of Columbia than in Vermont.

Teenage birth rates by State, 2009

State
Births per 1,000 females in age group, 2009
Ages 15-19 Ages 15-17 Ages 18-19
United States
39.1
20.1
66.2
Alabama
50.7
26.2
85.7
Alaska
44.5
19.0
84.1
Arizona
50.6
26.6
89.2
Arkansas
59.2
29.3
102.7
California
36.6
19.7
61.7
Colorado
38.5
20.6
64.5
Connecticut
21.0
10.6
35.3
Delaware
35.3
18.3
57.7
District of Columbia
47.7
38.4
55.0
Florida
39.0
18.7
69.2
Georgia
47.7
23.6
84.0
Hawaii
40.9
18.4
75.3
Idaho
35.9
16.9
61.5
Illinois
36.1
19.1
60.3
Indiana
42.5
20.9
73.2
Iowa
32.1
15.8
53.1
Kansas
43.8
20.7
76.3
Kentucky
51.3
24.7
90.7
Louisiana
52.7
27.1
88.9
Maine
24.4
10.0
44.4
Maryland
31.3
16.3
52.8
Massachusetts
19.6
10.6
30.4
Michigan
32.7
16.0
56.3
Minnesota
24.3
11.5
41.8
Mississippi
64.2
35.2
105.9
Missouri
41.6
19.5
74.1
Montana
38.5
18.8
65.8
Nebraska
34.6
17.4
57.3
Nevada
47.4
24.5
87.6
New Hampshire
16.4
7.1
28.5
New Jersey
22.7
11.1
41.4
New Mexico
63.9
36.1
104.1
New York
24.4
12.2
41.3
North Carolina
44.9
23.1
74.8
North Dakota
27.9
13.2
43.4
Ohio
38.9
18.7
68.3
Oklahoma
60.1
30.0
103.8
Oregon
33.1
16.1
57.6
Pennsylvania
29.3
15.6
47.4
Rhode Island
26.8
17.9
36.7
South Carolina
49.1
24.6
82.8
South Dakota
38.4
18.5
65.7
Tennessee
50.6
24.0
90.8
Texas
60.7
34.3
100.5
Utah
30.7
16.2
49.3
Vermont
17.4
6.7
29.8
Virginia
31.0
14.6
52.6
Washington
31.9
14.5
58.7
West Virginia
49.8
24.7
84.2
Wisconsin
29.4
14.3
49.5
Wyoming
45.0
19.5
81.2
Puerto Rico
54.7
33.8
85.9
Virgin Islands
51.5
22.2
98.9
Guam
50.8
28.4
85.4
American Samoa
35.2
13.2
74.3
Northern Marianas
50.2
31.9
78.9
 [ Excel file ]

  • The U.S. birth rate for mothers ages 15–17 fell 48% between 1991 and 2009.
  • During this period, the birth rate for mothers ages 15–17 declined in every state. The states with the largest relative decline include Vermont (down 69%) and Connecticut (60%), while rates in California, Florida, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey and New York all fell 58%. In the District of Columbia, the birth rate for mothers ages 15–17 fell 63%.
Internet citation: OJJDP Statistical Briefing Book. Online. Available: http://www.ojjdp.gov/ojstatbb/population/qa01304.asp?qaDate=2009. Released on March 05, 2012.

Data Source: Martin, J.A., Hamilton, B.E., Ventura, S.J., et al. Births: Final Data for 2009. National Vital Statistics Report, Vol. 60, No. 01. [PDF]. Hyattsville, Maryland: National Center for Health Statistics, 2011.

 

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