Mean age of mother, 1970-2000

Abstract

Objectives: This report presents trends in the mean age of mothers giving birth for the United States for the last three decades. Data are presented by live-birth order, race, Hispanic origin, and State of residence of the mother.

Methods: Descriptive tabulations and graphs of the trends in the mean age of mother are discussed.

Results: The mean age of mother has increased steadily in the United States over the last three decades. Mothers having their first and second live births had the largest increase in mean age. Among racial and Hispanic origin subgroups, Japanese women had the highest mean age in 2000. Puerto Rican women had the lowest mean age. Massachusetts had the highest mean age in 2000 and Mississippi had the lowest.