The age of motherhood in America is steadily climbing, with new mothers waiting longer to have their first child, according to a new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study.
The average age for all U.S. mothers giving birth reached nearly 30 years (29.6) in 2023, marking a significant increase from 28.7 in 2016. First-time mothers are now typically 27.5 years old, up from 26.6 in 2016.
This upward trend isn't new – it's part of a decades-long shift in American family planning. Since 1970, when the average first-time mother was just 21.4 years old, the age has steadily increased, with the most dramatic rises occurring after 2009.
