File:USA Mean age mother first birth by state.jpg

Mean age of mother at first birth by state: United States, 2006

Links NVSR USA Births 2006: Cesarean rate by gestational age | Live births and fertility rates | Mean age mother first birth by state | Change distribution births by gestational age | Percentage low birthweight by maternal age | Triplet birth rate | Reference | Birth | National Vital Statistics Reports

The mean age at first birth also varies substantially by state. The lowest mean age at first birth was reported for women in Mississippi (22.6 years), whereas the highest was for women in Massachusetts (27.7 years) (Table C). Distinct patterns by region emerge when these data are mapped. The mean age at first birth in 2006 tended to be highest in the North and Northeast and lowest in the South and Southwest. These geographic patterns largely reflect each state’s race and Hispanic origin composition.

The mean age at first birth significantly decreased from 2005 to 2006 for 22 states (Alabama, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, New Hamp­ shire, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, and Virginia) and the District of Columbia with no distinct patterns by region (data not shown). The mean age for the other states either did not significantly change, or increased (North Dakota and Tennessee). See Table C for 2006 data.

SOURCE: CDC/NCHS, National Vital Statistics System.

NOTE: Singleton births only.

Martin JA, Hamilton BE, Sutton PD, Ventura SJ, et al. Births: Final data for 2006. National vital statistics reports; vol 57 no 7. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2009.

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