Special Report

How Many People Were Born the Year You Were Born

Thinkstock

The birth rate in the United States is lower today than at any point in the nation’s history. As the baby boomer generation — the largest generation in America’s history — is reaching retirement age, this continued decline in the birth rate could cause economic issues in the future as the working generation may struggle to support the retired generation.

To highlight changes in birth rates throughout America’s modern history, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the number of people born every year since 1933. The birth rate in 2015 was 12.4 per 1,000 Americans, less than half the birth rate in 1947 of 25.8 per 1,000 Americans — the highest rate of all years examined.

Birth rates tend to decline during bad economic times as young adults may choose to limit the size of their family or delay starting one. This is evident in the relatively low birth rates in the 1930s amid the Great Depression and during the recent recession.

Click here to see how many people were born the year you were born.

After World War II, birth rates shot up and the nation experienced a period of record population growth. In each of the baby boom years from 1946 to 1964, the birth rate was higher than 20 per 1,000 Americans — a level that has not occurred since.

More babies were born in 1955 than in 2015, even though the population then was roughly half the size it was in 2015.

To determine how many people were born the year you were born, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the number of births and the birth rate per 1,000 people from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Vital Statistics of the United States report series. Population figures were from the Bureau of Economic Analysis. The most popular names for each year came from the Social Security Administration.

Here is a timeline of births in each year, since 1933.

U.S. National Archives and Records Administration / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 2,081,232
> Population: 125,578,763
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 16.6
> Most popular boy name: Robert
> Most popular girl name: Mary

[in-text-ad]

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 2,167,636
> Population: 126,373,773
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 17.2
> Most popular boy name: Robert
> Most popular girl name: Mary

blokes 2012 / Flickr

> Births: 2,155,105
> Population: 127,250,232
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 16.9
> Most popular boy name: Robert
> Most popular girl name: Mary

St. Paul Pioneer Press / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 2,144,790
> Population: 128,053,180
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 16.7
> Most popular boy name: Robert
> Most popular girl name: Mary

State Library of New South Wales / Flickr

> Births: 2,203,337
> Population: 128,824,829
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 17.1
> Most popular boy name: Robert
> Most popular girl name: Mary

[in-text-ad-2]

Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 2,286,962
> Population: 129,824,939
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 17.6
> Most popular boy name: Robert
> Most popular girl name: Mary

Library of Congress / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 2,265,588
> Population: 130,879,718
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 17.3
> Most popular boy name: Robert
> Most popular girl name: Mary

U.S. National Archives and Records Administration / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 2,360,399
> Population: 132,122,446
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 17.9
> Most popular boy name: James
> Most popular girl name: Mary

[in-text-ad]

National Archives and Records Administration, Franklin D. Roosevelt Library (NLFDR) / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 2,513,427
> Population: 133,402,471
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 18.8
> Most popular boy name: James
> Most popular girl name: Mary

Australian War Memorial collection / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 2,808,996
> Population: 134,859,553
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 20.8
> Most popular boy name: James
> Most popular girl name: Mary

pingnews.com / Flickr

> Births: 2,934,860
> Population: 136,739,353
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 21.5
> Most popular boy name: James
> Most popular girl name: Mary

U.S. Navy National Museum of Naval Aviation / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 2,794,800
> Population: 138,397,345
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 20.2
> Most popular boy name: James
> Most popular girl name: Mary

National Archives and Records Administration / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 2,735,456
> Population: 139,928,165
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 19.5
> Most popular boy name: James
> Most popular girl name: Mary

Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 3,288,672
> Population: 141,388,566
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 23.3
> Most popular boy name: James
> Most popular girl name: Mary

[in-text-ad-2]

Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 3,699,940
> Population: 144,126,071
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 25.8
> Most popular boy name: James
> Most popular girl name: Linda

Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 3,535,068
> Population: 146,631,302
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 24.2
> Most popular boy name: James
> Most popular girl name: Linda

The U.S. National Archives / Flickr

> Births: 3,559,529
> Population: 149,188,130
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 23.9
> Most popular boy name: James
> Most popular girl name: Linda

TaliaMcGeorgePhotography / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 3,554,149
> Population: 152,271,417
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 23.6
> Most popular boy name: James
> Most popular girl name: Linda

[in-text-ad]

Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 3,750,850
> Population: 154,877,889
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 24.5
> Most popular boy name: James
> Most popular girl name: Linda

Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 3,846,986
> Population: 157,552,740
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 24.7
> Most popular boy name: James
> Most popular girl name: Linda

Library of Congress / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 3,902,120
> Population: 160,184,192
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 24.7
> Most popular boy name: Robert
> Most popular girl name: Mary

Seattle Municipal Archives / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 4,017,362
> Population: 163,025,854
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 24.9
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Mary

Seattle Municipal Archives / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 4,047,295
> Population: 165,931,202
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 24.6
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Mary

ABC Television / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 4,163,090
> Population: 168,903,031
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 24.9
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Mary

[in-text-ad-2]

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 4,254,784
> Population: 171,984,130
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 25.0
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Mary

National Archives and Records Administration / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 4,203,812
> Population: 174,881,904
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 24.3
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Mary

The Sporting News Archives / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 4,244,796
> Population: 177,829,628
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 24.0
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Mary

Alden Jewell / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 4,257,850
> Population: 180,671,158
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 23.7
> Most popular boy name: David
> Most popular girl name: Mary

[in-text-ad]

The U.S. National Archives / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 4,268,326
> Population: 183,691,481
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 23.3
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Mary

Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 4,167,362
> Population: 186,537,737
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 22.4
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Lisa

Executive Office of the President of the United States / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 4,098,020
> Population: 189,241,798
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 21.7
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Lisa

Harry Pot, / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 4,027,490
> Population: 191,888,791
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 21.1
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Lisa

Mennonite Church USA Archives / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 3,760,358
> Population: 194,302,963
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 19.4
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Lisa

Gizurr / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 3,606,274
> Population: 196,560,338
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 18.4
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Lisa

[in-text-ad-2]

JOHN LLOYD / Flickr

> Births: 3,520,959
> Population: 198,712,056
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 17.8
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Lisa

Ollie Atkins, White House photographer / Library of Congress / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 3,501,564
> Population: 200,706,052
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 17.6
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Lisa

NASA / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 3,600,206
> Population: 202,676,946
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 17.9
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Lisa

Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 3,731,386
> Population: 205,052,174
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 18.4
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Jennifer

[in-text-ad]

Leena A. Krohn / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 3,555,970
> Population: 207,660,677
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 17.2
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Jennifer

U.S. National Archives and Records Administration / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 3,258,411
> Population: 209,896,021
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 15.6
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Jennifer

sterferg / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 3,136,965
> Population: 211,908,788
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 14.9
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Jennifer

ABC Television / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 3,159,958
> Population: 213,853,928
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 14.9
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Jennifer

Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 3,144,198
> Population: 215,973,199
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 14.8
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Jennifer

White House Photograph Courtesy Gerald R. Ford Library / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 3,167,788
> Population: 218,035,164
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 14.8
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Jennifer

[in-text-ad-2]

Derzsi Elekes Andor / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 3,326,632
> Population: 220,239,425
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 15.4
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Jennifer

Steve Morgan / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 3,333,279
> Population: 222,584,545
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 15.3
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Jennifer

Thomas J. O'Halloran, U.S. News & World Report / Library of Congress / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 3,494,398
> Population: 225,055,487
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 15.9
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Jennifer

Bogaerts, Rob / Anefo / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 3,612,258
> Population: 227,224,681
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 15.9
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Jennifer

[in-text-ad]

White House Photographic Office / The National Archives and Records Administration / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 3,629,238
> Population: 229,465,714
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 15.8
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Jennifer

Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 3,680,537
> Population: 231,664,458
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 15.9
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Jennifer

Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 3,638,933
> Population: 233,791,994
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 15.6
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Jennifer

Marcin Wichary / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 3,669,141
> Population: 235,824,902
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 15.6
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Jennifer

Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 3,760,561
> Population: 237,923,795
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 15.8
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Jessica

A1C Nancy Smelser / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 3,756,547
> Population: 240,132,887
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 15.6
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Jessica

[in-text-ad-2]

Virginia Tehan / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 3,809,394
> Population: 242,288,918
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 15.7
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Jessica

National Park Service / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 3,909,510
> Population: 244,498,982
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 16.0
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Jessica

Library of Congress / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 4,040,958
> Population: 246,819,230
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 16.4
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Jessica

Andrew Thomas / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 4,158,212
> Population: 249,464,396
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 16.7
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Ashley

[in-text-ad]

U.S. Air Force / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 4,110,907
> Population: 252,153,092
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 16.2
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Ashley

Gary B. Edstrom / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 4,065,014
> Population: 255,029,699
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 15.8
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Ashley

Official White House photograph / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 4,000,240
> Population: 257,782,608
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 15.4
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Jessica

Andrea Booher / FEMA / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 3,952,767
> Population: 260,327,021
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 15.0
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Jessica

NASA / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 3,899,589
> Population: 262,803,276
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 14.6
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Jessica

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 3,891,494
> Population: 265,228,572
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 14.4
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Emily

[in-text-ad-2]

Kees de Vos / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 3,880,894
> Population: 267,783,607
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 14.2
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Emily

Flickr user Kevin Jarrett / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 3,941,553
> Population: 270,248,003
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 14.3
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Emily

Grj23 / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 3,959,417
> Population: 272,690,813
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 14.2
> Most popular boy name: Jacob
> Most popular girl name: Emily

Rob Boudon / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 4,058,814
> Population: 282,162,411
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 14.4
> Most popular boy name: Jacob
> Most popular girl name: Emily

[in-text-ad]

SFC Thomas R. Roberts / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 4,025,933
> Population: 284,968,955
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 14.1
> Most popular boy name: Jacob
> Most popular girl name: Emily

Sergeant Joseph R. Chenelly, United States Marine Corps / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 4,021,726
> Population: 287,625,193
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 13.9
> Most popular boy name: Jacob
> Most popular girl name: Emily

National Archive Catalog / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 4,089,950
> Population: 290,107,933
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 14.1
> Most popular boy name: Jacob
> Most popular girl name: Emily

Tech. Sgt. Jerry Morrison Jr., U.S. Air Force / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 4,112,052
> Population: 292,805,298
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 14.0
> Most popular boy name: Jacob
> Most popular girl name: Emily

Jocelyn Augustino / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 4,138,349
> Population: 295,516,599
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 14.0
> Most popular boy name: Jacob
> Most popular girl name: Emily

Kjetil Ree / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 4,265,555
> Population: 298,379,912
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 14.3
> Most popular boy name: Jacob
> Most popular girl name: Emily

[in-text-ad-2]

Ben Stanfield / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 4,316,233
> Population: 301,231,207
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 14.3
> Most popular boy name: Jacob
> Most popular girl name: Emily

CODEPINK Women For Peace / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 4,247,694
> Population: 304,093,966
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 14.0
> Most popular boy name: Jacob
> Most popular girl name: Emma

Master Sgt. Cecilio Ricardo, U.S. Air Force / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 4,130,665
> Population: 306,771,529
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 13.5
> Most popular boy name: Jacob
> Most popular girl name: Isabella

U.S. Coast Guard / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 3,999,386
> Population: 309,346,863
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 12.9
> Most popular boy name: Jacob
> Most popular girl name: Isabella

[in-text-ad]

David Shankbone / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 3,953,590
> Population: 311,718,857
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 12.7
> Most popular boy name: Jacob
> Most popular girl name: Sophia

New Jersey National Guard / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 3,952,841
> Population: 314,102,623
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 12.6
> Most popular boy name: Jacob
> Most popular girl name: Sophia

White House / Sonya Hebert / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 3,932,181
> Population: 316,427,395
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 12.4
> Most popular boy name: Noah
> Most popular girl name: Sophia

[in-text-ad-2]

TechCrunch / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 3,988,076
> Population: 318,907,401
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 12.5
> Most popular boy name: Noah
> Most popular girl name: Emma

Difference engine / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 3,978,497
> Population: 321,418,820
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 12.4
> Most popular boy name: Noah
> Most popular girl name: Emma

Get Ready To Retire (Sponsored)

Start by taking a quick retirement quiz from SmartAsset that will match you with up to 3 financial advisors that serve your area and beyond in 5 minutes, or less.

Each advisor has been vetted by SmartAsset and is held to a fiduciary standard to act in your best interests.

Here’s how it works:
1. Answer SmartAsset advisor match quiz
2. Review your pre-screened matches at your leisure. Check out the advisors’ profiles.
3. Speak with advisors at no cost to you. Have an introductory call on the phone or introduction in person and choose whom to work with in the future

Get started right here.

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.