A new report has revealed a significant decline in child populations across major cities in the United States, with cities in California experiencing some of the steepest losses.
| PULSE POINTS |
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: The number of children living in major cities in the United States has fallen by six percent, with Californian cities experiencing the steepest declines. 📺 DETAIL: According to data published by The Wall Street Journal, the number of children living in major U.S. cities has dropped six percent over the past decade. Out of the 25 cities with the largest child population declines, six of them are in California. San Jose has lost 20 percent of its population under 18 and 34 percent of children under five years old. San Diego has lost 14 percent of its children, Fresno lost five percent, Sacramento lost four percent, and San Francisco has lost three percent. The study includes cities with a population of more than 500,000 residents. The U.S. birth rate has fallen nine percent over the past ten years. A rising cost of living in urban areas is driving people to leave major cities to start families, a trend accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to analysts. However, some cities have experienced an uptick. The child population in Fort Worth, Texas, and Jacksonville, Florida, has increased by 11 percent over the last decade, while the child population in Washington, D.C., and Seattle, Washington, has increased by 10 percent. 💬 KEY QUOTE: “Families had more exit options and they took them,” said Connor O’Brien, Fellow at the Institute for Progress, a non-partisan think-tank based in Washington, D.C. 🎯 IMPACT: The decline in child populations could have long-term implications for urban development, schools, and local economies. This represents a continuing trend of declining fertility across the United States. In 2024, it was reported that the U.S. birth and fertility rates were declining significantly. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the number of births in the U.S. decreased by two percent in 2023. The general fertility rate experienced a three percent drop over the same period. This reflects a broader trend across the West. Earlier this year, it was reported that England and Wales had recorded their lowest fertility rates on record in 2025. |
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