The U.S. registered a record number of births in 2007, at more than 4.3 million, a 1 percent increase over 2006. Birth rates increased among all age groups (15 to 44 years). The summary is provided in the “Annual Summary of Vital Statistics: 2007,” published in the January 2010 issue of Pediatrics (appearing online December 21). Key statistics in this report include:

• Childbearing by U.S. teenagers rose for the second consecutive year, in contrast with the long-term decline in adolescent birth rates that extended from 1991 through 2005. 

• The birth rate for teenagers rose about 1 percent in 2007, to 42.5 births per 1,000 teenagers aged 15 to 19 years. Study authors suggest that pregnancy prevention programs were effective at reducing teen births in the 1990s and early part of this decade, but that new messages and strategies are needed to reach today’s teenagers.

• The general fertility rate (the number of births per 1,000 women aged 15 to 44 years) rose 1 percent in 2007 to 69.5.

• The proportion of all births to unmarried women increased to 39.7 percent in 2007, up from 38.5 percent in 2006, with increases for all races and ethnic Hispanic population groups.

• In 2007, 31.8 percent of all births occurred by cesarean delivery, up 2 percent from 2006.

• The rate of multiple births remained essentially unchanged between 2005 and 2006, while the preterm birth rate showed a 1 percent decline, to 12.7 percent in 2007. The 2007 low-birth-weight rate also declined slightly in 2007 to 8.2 percent.

• The infant mortality rate was 6.77 infant deaths per 1,000 live births in 2007, which is similar to the 2006 rate. The U.S. continues to rank poorly compared to other nations in infant mortality rates.

• Life expectancy at birth reached a record high of 77.9 years in 2007.

• Death rates for children aged 1 to 19 years decreased by 2.5 percent between 2006 and 2007. Unintentional injuries and homicide were the leading causes of death to children and adolescents.

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The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 60,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults. For more information, visit www.aap.org.