CDC: Americans aren't having enough babies to sustain the population

WASHINGTON (FOX 5 DC) - Americans aren't having enough children to sustain the population, bringing the national fertility rate to a 30-year low, according to a report from the CDC.

The CDC has found in its "National Vital Statistics" report that as of 2017, birth rates have fallen 16 percent below the level needed for the American population to replace itself.

The report finds that only two states, New Mexico and Utah, can replace their own population. D.C. holds the lowest birthrate with 1,421 births for every 1,000 women.

The reported "total fertility rate" was found based on the expected number of births in a lifetime per 1,000 women, given current birth rates by age. The report took its information from 2017 birth certificate data.

Several factors are believed to have an impact, include finances and the cost of a child.

Women are also having children later in life, often because they have not reached all of the milestones they would like to before having kids.

By race, white women consistently had fertility rates below the "replacement level" in any state.

Hispanic women hit the rate in 29 states, while black women only in 12 states.