Special Report

States Where People Are Having the Most Babies

Cheyenne Buckingham

Published: July 27, 2017 1:07 pm

Last Updated: March 19, 2020 10:54 am

Ever wonder which states are contributing the most to our ever-expanding population? Or the ones that are contributing the least? Of course, generally, a state’s population size matters most — the larger the size of the populace the more the state is likely to contribute to U.S. population growth. But a state’s fertility rate and the number of women who are within the fertile age range are essential to understanding how states compare.

24/7 Wall St. reviewed the 2015 fertility rate in each state. South Dakota and Utah top the list, with South Dakota just inching past Utah as the state with the highest fertility rate or 77 births per 1,000 women age 15 to 44. Of course, California — the most populous — tops the list of most babies born although its fertility rate is 14th smallest.

Women in New Hampshire have the fewest babies. With a fertility rate of 51 per 1,000 women within fertile age range — the lowest of all states — births in the state accounted for only 0.3% of the near 4 million births in the United States.

Read on to find out which of the 50 states has the highest fertility rate. Any guesses?

Click here to see the states where people are having the most babies.
Click here to see our detailed findings and methodology.

50. New Hampshire
> Births per 1,000 women 15-44 yrs.: 51.0
> Births in 2015: 12,433 (8th lowest)
> Women aged 15-44: 243,587 (10th lowest)
> Pop. under 5 years old: 4.8% (tied–the lowest)
> Poverty rate: 8.2% (the lowest)

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49. Vermont
> Births per 1,000 women 15-44 yrs.: 51.6
> Births in 2015: 5,903 (the lowest)
> Women aged 15-44: 114,296 (2nd lowest)
> Pop. under 5 years old: 4.8% (tied–the lowest)
> Poverty rate: 10.2% (tied–3th lowest)

48. Massachusetts
> Births per 1,000 women 15-44 yrs.: 52.0
> Births in 2015: 71,492 (19th highest)
> Women aged 15-44: 1,374,336 (14th highest)
> Pop. under 5 years old: 5.4% (tied–6th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 11.5% (tied–13th lowest)

47. Rhode Island
> Births per 1,000 women 15-44 yrs.: 52.2
> Births in 2015: 10,993 (3rd lowest)
> Women aged 15-44: 210,731 (8th lowest)
> Pop. under 5 years old: 5.1% (4th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 13.9% (25th lowest)

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46. Connecticut
> Births per 1,000 women 15-44 yrs.: 52.3
> Births in 2015: 35,746 (16th lowest)
> Women aged 15-44: 684,042 (22nd lowest)
> Pop. under 5 years old: 5.2% (5th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 10.5% (6th lowest)

45. Maine
> Births per 1,000 women 15-44 yrs.: 54.5
> Births in 2015: 12,607 (10th lowest)
> Women aged 15-44: 231,300 (9th lowest)
> Pop. under 5 years old: 4.8% (tied–the lowest)
> Poverty rate: 13.4% (22nd lowest)

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44. Oregon
> Births per 1,000 women 15-44 yrs.: 58.1
> Births in 2015: 45,655 (22nd lowest)
> Women aged 15-44: 786,211 (24th lowest)
> Pop. under 5 years old: 5.7% (10th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 15.4% (tied–17th highest)

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43. Pennsylvania
> Births per 1,000 women 15-44 yrs.: 58.9
> Births in 2015: 141,047 (6th highest)
> Women aged 15-44: 2,393,734 (6th highest)
> Pop. under 5 years old: 5.6% (9th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 13.2% (21st lowest)

42. New York
> Births per 1,000 women 15-44 yrs.: 59.0
> Births in 2015: 237,274 (3rd highest)
> Women aged 15-44: 4,020,784 (3rd highest)
> Pop. under 5 years old: 6.0% (tied–19th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 15.4% (tied–17th highest)

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41. West Virginia
> Births per 1,000 women 15-44 yrs.: 59.1
> Births in 2015: 19,805 (12th lowest)
> Women aged 15-44: 334,934 (13th lowest)
> Pop. under 5 years old: 5.5% (8th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 17.9% (7th highest)

40. Florida
> Births per 1,000 women 15-44 yrs.: 59.8
> Births in 2015: 224,269 (4th highest)
> Women aged 15-44: 3,747,192 (4th highest)
> Pop. under 5 years old: 5.4% (tied–6th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 15.7% (16th highest)

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39. Colorado
> Births per 1,000 women 15-44 yrs.: 60.1
> Births in 2015: 66,581 (22nd highest)
> Women aged 15-44: 1,107,946 (20th highest)
> Pop. under 5 years old: 6.1% (25th highest)
> Poverty rate: 11.5% (tied–13th lowest)

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38. New Jersey
> Births per 1,000 women 15-44 yrs.: 60.2
> Births in 2015: 103,127 (12th highest)
> Women aged 15-44: 1,714,087 (11th highest)
> Pop. under 5 years old: 5.9% (tied–14th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 10.8% (8th lowest)

37. Michigan
> Births per 1,000 women 15-44 yrs.: 60.4
> Births in 2015: 113,312 (10th highest)
> Women aged 15-44: 1,876,929 (10th highest)
> Pop. under 5 years old: 5.8% (tied–11th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 15.8% (15th highest)

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36. California
> Births per 1,000 women 15-44 yrs.: 60.6
> Births in 2015: 491,748 (the highest)
> Women aged 15-44: 8,118,155 (the highest)
> Pop. under 5 years old: 6.4% (tied–12th highest)
> Poverty rate: 15.3% (19th highest)

35. North Carolina
> Births per 1,000 women 15-44 yrs.: 60.7
> Births in 2015: 120,843 (9th highest)
> Women aged 15-44: 1,991,810 (9th highest)
> Pop. under 5 years old: 6.0% (tied–19th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 16.4% (12th highest)

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34. Maryland
> Births per 1,000 women 15-44 yrs.: 61.2
> Births in 2015: 73,616 (18th highest)
> Women aged 15-44: 1,203,587 (18th highest)
> Pop. under 5 years old: 6.1% (tied–22nd lowest)
> Poverty rate: 9.7% (2nd lowest)

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33. South Carolina
> Births per 1,000 women 15-44 yrs.: 61.3
> Births in 2015: 58,139 (25th highest)
> Women aged 15-44: 949,177 (24th highest)
> Pop. under 5 years old: 5.9% (tied–14th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 16.6% (11th highest)

32. Illinois
> Births per 1,000 women 15-44 yrs.: 61.3
> Births in 2015: 158,116 (5th highest)
> Women aged 15-44: 2,580,527 (5th highest)
> Pop. under 5 years old: 6.1% (tied–22nd lowest)
> Poverty rate: 13.6% (23rd lowest)

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31. Virginia
> Births per 1,000 women 15-44 yrs.: 61.3
> Births in 2015: 103,303 (11th highest)
> Women aged 15-44: 1,685,640 (12th highest)
> Pop. under 5 years old: 6.1% (tied–22nd lowest)
> Poverty rate: 11.2% (11th lowest)

30. Georgia
> Births per 1,000 women 15-44 yrs.: 61.8
> Births in 2015: 131,404 (8th highest)
> Women aged 15-44: 2,127,197 (8th highest)
> Pop. under 5 years old: 6.4% (tied–12th highest)
> Poverty rate: 17.0% (9th highest)

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29. Alabama
> Births per 1,000 women 15-44 yrs.: 61.8
> Births in 2015: 59,657 (24th highest)
> Women aged 15-44: 964,875 (23rd highest)
> Pop. under 5 years old: 5.9% (tied–14th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 18.5% (tied–5th highest)

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28. Delaware
> Births per 1,000 women 15-44 yrs.: 61.9
> Births in 2015: 11,166 (4th lowest)
> Women aged 15-44: 180,459 (6th lowest)
> Pop. under 5 years old: 5.9% (tied–14th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 12.4% (18th lowest)

27. Wisconsin
> Births per 1,000 women 15-44 yrs.: 62.1
> Births in 2015: 67,041 (21st highest)
> Women aged 15-44: 1,079,931 (21st highest)
> Pop. under 5 years old: 5.8% (tied–11th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 12.1% (15th lowest)

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26. Tennessee
> Births per 1,000 women 15-44 yrs.: 62.7
> Births in 2015: 81,685 (16th highest)
> Women aged 15-44: 1,303,460 (16th highest)
> Pop. under 5 years old: 6.0% (tied–19th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 16.7% (10th highest)

25. Washington
> Births per 1,000 women 15-44 yrs.: 62.8
> Births in 2015: 88,990 (13th highest)
> Women aged 15-44: 1,416,126 (13th highest)
> Pop. under 5 years old: 6.2% (tied–21st highest)
> Poverty rate: 12.2% (tied–16th lowest)

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24. Ohio
> Births per 1,000 women 15-44 yrs.: 63.0
> Births in 2015: 139,264 (7th highest)
> Women aged 15-44: 2,211,693 (7th highest)
> Pop. under 5 years old: 5.9% (tied–14th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 14.8% (tied–21st highest)

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23. Nevada
> Births per 1,000 women 15-44 yrs.: 63.3
> Births in 2015: 36,298 (17th lowest)
> Women aged 15-44: 573,025 (17th lowest)
> Pop. under 5 years old: 6.1% (tied–22nd lowest)
> Poverty rate: 14.7% (23rd highest)

22. Mississippi
> Births per 1,000 women 15-44 yrs.: 63.8
> Births in 2015: 38,394 (18th lowest)
> Women aged 15-44: 602,097 (20th lowest)
> Pop. under 5 years old: 6.3% (tied–17th highest)
> Poverty rate: 22.0% (the highest)

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21. Missouri
> Births per 1,000 women 15-44 yrs.: 64.1
> Births in 2015: 75,061 (17th highest)
> Women aged 15-44: 1,171,810 (19th highest)
> Pop. under 5 years old: 6.2% (tied–21st highest)
> Poverty rate: 14.8% (tied–21st highest)

20. Arizona
> Births per 1,000 women 15-44 yrs.: 64.6
> Births in 2015: 85,351 (14th highest)
> Women aged 15-44: 1,321,221 (15th highest)
> Pop. under 5 years old: 6.3% (tied–17th highest)
> Poverty rate: 17.4% (8th highest)

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19. Indiana
> Births per 1,000 women 15-44 yrs.: 64.7
> Births in 2015: 84,040 (15th highest)
> Women aged 15-44: 1,299,504 (17th highest)
> Pop. under 5 years old: 6.3% (tied–17th highest)
> Poverty rate: 14.5% (25th highest)

18. New Mexico
> Births per 1,000 women 15-44 yrs.: 65.6
> Births in 2015: 25,816 (14th lowest)
> Women aged 15-44: 393,737 (15th lowest)
> Pop. under 5 years old: 6.4% (tied–12th highest)
> Poverty rate: 20.4% (2nd highest)

17. Kentucky
> Births per 1,000 women 15-44 yrs.: 65.6
> Births in 2015: 55,971 (25th lowest)
> Women aged 15-44: 852,826 (25th lowest)
> Pop. under 5 years old: 6.2% (tied–21st highest)
> Poverty rate: 18.5% (tied–5th highest)

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16. Minnesota
> Births per 1,000 women 15-44 yrs.: 66.2
> Births in 2015: 69,834 (20th highest)
> Women aged 15-44: 1,054,153 (22nd highest)
> Pop. under 5 years old: 6.4% (tied–12th highest)
> Poverty rate: 10.2% (tied–3th lowest)

15. Iowa
> Births per 1,000 women 15-44 yrs.: 66.7
> Births in 2015: 39,482 (21st lowest)
> Women aged 15-44: 592,053 (19th lowest)
> Pop. under 5 years old: 6.2% (tied–21st highest)
> Poverty rate: 12.2% (tied–16th lowest)

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14. Montana
> Births per 1,000 women 15-44 yrs.: 67.6
> Births in 2015: 12,583 (9th lowest)
> Women aged 15-44: 186,040 (7th lowest)
> Pop. under 5 years old: 5.8% (tied–11th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 14.6% (24th highest)

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13. Arkansas
> Births per 1,000 women 15-44 yrs.: 67.7
> Births in 2015: 38,886 (19th lowest)
> Women aged 15-44: 574,044 (18th lowest)
> Pop. under 5 years old: 6.3% (tied–17th highest)
> Poverty rate: 19.1% (4th highest)

12. Wyoming
> Births per 1,000 women 15-44 yrs.: 68.1
> Births in 2015: 7,765 (2nd lowest)
> Women aged 15-44: 114,074 (the lowest)
> Pop. under 5 years old: 6.5% (tied–10th highest)
> Poverty rate: 11.1% (10th lowest)

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11. Louisiana
> Births per 1,000 women 15-44 yrs.: 68.3
> Births in 2015: 64,692 (23rd highest)
> Women aged 15-44: 946,617 (25th highest)
> Pop. under 5 years old: 6.5% (tied–10th highest)
> Poverty rate: 19.6% (3rd highest)

10. Hawaii
> Births per 1,000 women 15-44 yrs.: 68.6
> Births in 2015: 18,420 (11th lowest)
> Women aged 15-44: 268,648 (11th lowest)
> Pop. under 5 years old: 6.4% (tied–12th highest)
> Poverty rate: 10.6% (7th lowest)

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9. Oklahoma
> Births per 1,000 women 15-44 yrs.: 69.1
> Births in 2015: 53,122 (24th lowest)
> Women aged 15-44: 768,995 (23rd lowest)
> Pop. under 5 years old: 6.7% (9th highest)
> Poverty rate: 16.1% (13th highest)

8. Kansas
> Births per 1,000 women 15-44 yrs.: 69.7
> Births in 2015: 39,154 (20th lowest)
> Women aged 15-44: 561,568 (16th lowest)
> Pop. under 5 years old: 6.8% (tied–7th highest)
> Poverty rate: 13.0% (20th lowest)

7. Texas
> Births per 1,000 women 15-44 yrs.: 70.1
> Births in 2015: 403,618 (2nd highest)
> Women aged 15-44: 5,758,980 (2nd highest)
> Pop. under 5 years old: 7.2% (3rd highest)
> Poverty rate: 15.9% (14th highest)

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6. Idaho
> Births per 1,000 women 15-44 yrs.: 71.2
> Births in 2015: 22,827 (13th lowest)
> Women aged 15-44: 320,479 (12th lowest)
> Pop. under 5 years old: 6.8% (tied–7th highest)
> Poverty rate: 15.1% (20th highest)

5. Nebraska
> Births per 1,000 women 15-44 yrs.: 72.3
> Births in 2015: 26,679 (15th lowest)
> Women aged 15-44: 369,044 (14th lowest)
> Pop. under 5 years old: 6.9% (tied–4th highest)
> Poverty rate: 12.6% (19th lowest)

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4. Alaska
> Births per 1,000 women 15-44 yrs.: 76.3
> Births in 2015: 11,282 (5th lowest)
> Women aged 15-44: 147,939 (4th lowest)
> Pop. under 5 years old: 7.4% (2nd highest)
> Poverty rate: 10.3% (5th lowest)

3. North Dakota
> Births per 1,000 women 15-44 yrs.: 77.3
> Births in 2015: 11,314 (6th lowest)
> Women aged 15-44: 146,404 (3rd lowest)
> Pop. under 5 years old: 6.9% (tied–4th highest)
> Poverty rate: 11.0% (9th lowest)

2. Utah
> Births per 1,000 women 15-44 yrs.: 77.7
> Births in 2015: 50,778 (23rd lowest)
> Women aged 15-44: 653,906 (21st lowest)
> Pop. under 5 years old: 8.3% (the highest)
> Poverty rate: 11.3% (12th lowest)

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1. South Dakota
> Births per 1,000 women 15-44 yrs.: 77.7
> Births in 2015: 12,336 (7th lowest)
> Women aged 15-44: 158,818 (5th lowest)
> Pop. under 5 years old: 6.9% (tied–4th highest)
> Poverty rate: 13.7% (24th lowest)

For most people, having a family is a blessing, and the decision to embark on this chapter in life is not taken lightly. Parents often weigh many factors — anything from finances to timing. But do other, external factors also influence these decisions? For example, does a state’s poverty rate influence the fertility rate?

While the association between birth and poverty rates is tenuous at best, it seems there is an association between poverty rate and high teen fertility rates. Of the 22 states with above average poverty rates, 17 have teen birth rates that exceed the national teen birth rate of 22 births for every 1,000 15- to 19-year old women.

To identify the states where people are having the most and least babies, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the number of births per 1,000 women aged 15-44 (the fertility rate) in each state from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2015 American Community Survey. Poverty rates, births per 1,000 women aged 15-19 (teen birth rate) also came from the ACS.