Baby Bust by State

The Great Recession triggered a new baby bust, with the number of births in the U.S. falling 8.4 percent between 2007 and 2011. Births fell in almost every state during those years. The only exceptions were Alaska (up 3.2 percent), the District of Columbia (up 5.1 percent), and North Dakota (up 7.8 percent). In 12 states, the number of births fell by at least 10 percent. Here are the states hit hardest by the baby bust...

Decline in number of births, 2007 to 2011

1. Arizona: -16.9%

2. Nevada: -14.3%

3. Mississippi: -14.3%

4. Georgia: -12.8%

5. Rhode Island: -11.4%

6. California: -11.3%

7. Idaho: -10.8%

8. Illinois: -10.8%

9. Florida: -10.8%

10. New Mexico: -10.7%

11. Connecticut: -10.5%

12. Maine: -10.0%

Source: National Center for Health Statistics, Birth Data