Maryland Birth Rate Falls Below National Average As More Women Delay Or Forgo Motherhood

MARYLAND — Fewer babies are being born across the United States, and Maryland is following the national trend as more women delay motherhood or decide they do not want children at all.

Maryland recorded 65,797 births in 2024, with a general fertility rate of 53.3 births per 1,000 women ages 15 to 44, according to data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That placed Maryland slightly below the national rate of 53.8 births per 1,000 women. 

Although Maryland is not among the states with the country’s lowest fertility rates, its numbers reflect a broader demographic shift that has developed over nearly two decades. The nation’s fertility rate has declined during most years since 2007, according to a June 2026 analysis from the U.S. Census Bureau. 

The change is not simply about women waiting longer to become mothers. A growing number say they do not expect to have children at any point.

Some Women Simply Do Not Want Children

A 2024 Pew Research Center survey examined adults younger than 50 who did not have children and said they were unlikely to become parents.

Among women in that group, 64% said a major reason was that they simply did not want children, compared with 50% of men. Across all adults younger than 50 who were unlikely to have children, 57% cited not wanting them as a major reason. 

The findings suggest that remaining child-free is increasingly viewed by many adults as a deliberate life choice rather than simply the result of circumstance.

The survey also reflects broader cultural shifts in how some women view adulthood and family life. For some, careers, relationships, travel, community involvement, creative interests or greater personal independence have become priorities over parenthood.

Pew found that 44% of younger adults unlikely to have children said focusing on other priorities, including careers and personal interests, was a major factor.

The Pew study was national and did not provide Maryland-specific responses. However, the pressures identified in the survey — including affordability, career considerations and concern about the future — are also present in Maryland.

The High Cost Of Raising A Family

For many Maryland residents, the decision is not based solely on whether they like or want children. It is also tied to whether they believe they can afford them.

Pew found that 36% of adults younger than 50 who were unlikely to become parents said they could not afford to raise a child. 

That concern is especially significant in Maryland, where child care frequently exceeds federal affordability guidelines.

A 2024 report from the Office of the Comptroller of Maryland found that placing even one child in licensed care pushed costs above the federal affordability benchmark for families in nearly every age and income category examined. The federal benchmark considers child care affordable when it costs no more than 7% of household income. 

A separate 2026 analysis by the First Five Years Fund estimated that the average cost of care in Maryland was $25,321 per year, or about $2,110 per month. 

Those expenses arrive alongside housing, food, health insurance, transportation and other costs. Many households earning stable incomes still face difficult financial decisions.

For some women, the financial impact extends beyond monthly expenses. Having a baby can affect earnings, career advancement, work schedules and long-term retirement savings, especially when one parent reduces hours or temporarily leaves the workforce to provide care.

Concerns About The Future

Financial pressure is not the only source of hesitation.

Among adults younger than 50 who told Pew they were unlikely to have children, 38% cited concern about the general state of the world as a major reason. Another 26% pointed specifically to environmental issues, including climate change. 

Those concerns may include political and social instability, gun violence, health care access, environmental conditions and uncertainty about future opportunities.

For some women, the question is no longer simply whether they can raise a child. It is whether they feel comfortable bringing a child into a future they view as unpredictable.

Motherhood Is Happening Later

Other women still want children but are postponing parenthood while completing their education, establishing a career, finding a stable partner or achieving financial security.

Census Bureau data show that childlessness has increased sharply among younger women. In 2024, about 85% of women ages 20 to 24 had not had children, compared with approximately 75% in 2014. Among women ages 25 to 29, the share without children rose from about 50% to 63% during the same period. 

The shift does not necessarily mean all of those women will remain child-free. It does show that childbirth is occurring later.

CDC data show that fertility rates have generally declined among younger age groups while increasing among older women. From 2015 to 2024, the national fertility rate rose 5% for women ages 35 to 39 and increased 24% among women ages 40 and older. 

Delaying childbirth, however, can narrow the period in which people are able to have the number of children they originally envisioned. Some eventually have smaller families, while others encounter infertility, health complications or changing personal circumstances.

A Broader Definition Of A Fulfilling Life

The declining birth rate does not have one simple cause.

Some women want children but cannot afford them. Some have not found a partner with whom they want to raise a family. Others face infertility or health concerns. Some are waiting until later in life.

And some simply do not want to become mothers.

That final group has become increasingly visible as women gain more freedom to define adulthood outside of traditional family expectations. The decision may bring practical benefits as well. Pew found that many adults without children said their circumstances made it easier to save money, pursue interests and succeed professionally. 

Maryland’s fertility rate remains close to the national average, but the continued decline has potential long-term consequences. Fewer births can eventually affect school enrollment, the labor force, demand for housing and child care, and the number of working-age residents supporting an aging population.

Behind those demographic projections, however, are individual decisions shaped by personal goals, relationships, finances and women’s changing expectations for their own lives.

For many, the question is no longer when they will have children.

It is whether motherhood is the life they want at all.

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