Planned number of children has held steady

Over half a century of surveys, female teenagers age 15-19 have been fairly consistent, reporting their intention to have an average of just over two children during their lifetime. Each point describes the stated intention of girls born within that five-year time period.

Chart: The Conversation, CC-BY-ND Source: Guzzo and Hayford, "Evolving Fertility Goals and Behaviors in Current U.S. Childbearing Cohorts," Population and Development Review 2023 Get the data