Annual and state-level data on U.S. total fertility rates, 1931–present

Abstract

This data paper presents a comprehensive reconstruction of U.S. fertility trends, offering state-level Total Fertility Rates (TFR) from 1931 to the present on an annual basis. The dataset computes TFR based on the tabulations of birth counts by maternal age category, sourced from the “Vital Statistics of the United States” published by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Additionally, historical TFR are provided by race, with separate categories for white and non-white populations. TFR were further calculated using the number of women aged 14-49, derived from U.S. census data. This is the first time that TFR is being displayed at the state-year level and captures significant variations in fertility trends across states, during the rapid increase in fertility rates in the 1940s and 1950s, subsequent declines in the mid-1960s, and more recent fluctuations influenced by socio-economic factors, policies, and cultural shifts. By providing detailed, state-level data variation, this new resource offers valuable insights for public health researchers, policymakers, and demographers studying the determinants of fertility trends and their implications for social and economic planning.