Women in their 20s are delaying childbirth, but demographers suggest this “postponement transition” could lead to a rebound by age 45. Federal data shows U.S. fertility hit a record low in 2023, with births per 1,000 women aged 15-44 dropping 24% since 2007. However, experts argue this may reflect strategic life choices rather than permanent decline.

The shift spans education levels: college-educated women delayed pregnancy earlier, but now high school graduates in their 20s see a 36% birthrate decline since 2007, while those 35+ with similar education report a 58% increase. By 2024, 49% of 30-year-old women had children, down from 63% a decade prior. Yet women nearing childbearing’s end—like 45-year-olds—show resilience, with 88% becoming mothers compared to 84% two decades ago.

Demographers attribute delays to career investment, economic uncertainty, and reduced teen pregnancies. Teen birthrates fell 72% since 1991, accounting for a third of recent declines. However, concerns persist about long-term inequality: women with less education or lower incomes may never achieve stability to have children. Professor Karen Guzzo warns of emerging “fertility haves and have-nots,” as economic barriers hinder some from later parenthood.