Pregnancy Rates By State

The State With The Highest Teen Pregnancy Rate Is ...
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By: Stephanie Pappas, LiveScience Senior Writer
Published: 02/25/2013 03:05 PM EST on LiveScience

Teen pregnancy rates are highest in New Mexico and lowest in New Hampshire, according to a new report on the most current state-level data on pregnancy, birthrates and abortions among 15- to 19-year-olds.

The data is from 2008, the most current year that comprehensive information is available, according to the reproductive rights agency the Guttmacher Institute. Though 16 states did see an increase in teen pregnancies between 2005 and 2008, the analysis suggests that overall rates are continuing their decades-long decline.

"There are a few key factors driving the long-term declines in teen pregnancies," Guttmacher senior researcher Laura Lindberg said in a statement. "It is now the norm for teens to use contraceptives at first sex, which creates a pattern of continued contraceptive use down the road. Additionally, teens increasingly use the most effective birth-control methods, including hormonal methods and long-acting contraceptive methods like the IUD. By contrast, there has been less change in teens' levels of sexual activity."

IUDs, or intrauterine devices, are small t-shaped devices that are inserted into the uterus to prevent pregnancy. They have a low failure rate and last for between five and 10 years, depending on the type.

Teen Pregnancies

Nationwide statistics revealed in 2012 that the teen pregnancy rate hit a 40-year low in 2008. In 2008, the national teen pregnancy rate was 68 pregnancies per 1,000 teens, a 42 percent decline from the peak rate of 117 pregnancies per 1,000 teens in 1990.

With lower pregnancy rates, abortion rates dropped, too. In 2008, the teen abortion rate hit 17.8 abortions per 1,000 women, the lowest since the legalization of abortion in 1973.

State-by-state data is harder to come by, which is why the latest report comes out a year after the nationwide data. The results suggest that while the overall picture is positive, a teen's chances of becoming pregnant vary widely from state to state.

The highest pregnancy rate as of 2008 was in New Mexico, where 93 out of 1,000 teens became pregnant. Mississippi, Texas, Nevada, Arkansas and Arizona rounded out the top six states for teen pregnancy.

In the lowest-ranked state, New Hampshire, only 33 out of 1,000 teens became pregnant, the data revealed. Vermont, Minnesota, North Dakota and Massachusetts followed with similarly low rates. [See List of State-by-State Teen Pregnancy Rankings]

Because of abortion and miscarriage, pregnancies don't always result in birth. The highest teen birthrate in the country was in Mississippi, where 55 out of 1,000 teens became mothers in 2010. (Birthrate data is available more quickly than overall pregnancy data, so these statistics are more current.) The lowest teen birthrate was in New Hampshire, with 16 out of 1,000 births per teen.

The teen abortion rate was highest in New York, with 37 abortions per 1,000 teen women in 2008. It was lowest in South Dakota, where five out of every 1,000 teens got an abortion that year.

Positive Trends

Teen pregnancy rates declined in every state between 1988 and 2005, a trend that did not hold between 2005 and 2008. Sixteen states saw an increase in the teen pregnancy rate of 5 percent or more in that timeframe.

Louisiana saw the largest bump, from 67 to 80 pregnancies per 1,000 from 2005 to 2008. However, Guttmacher researchers noted, Hurricane Katrina caused disruptions and an exodus from the state in 2005, making that year's teen pregnancy rate artificially low. Utah's teen pregnancy rate went up by 12 percent between 2005 and 2008, and Pennsylvania's went up by 11 percent. [10 Facts About the Teen Brain]

New Jersey's teen pregnancy rate decreased the most in those three years, dropping 13 percent from 71 to 62 pregnancies per 1,000 teen women. Nevada and Arizona saw the next-biggest drops at 9 percent and 8 percent, respectively.

The increase in teen pregnancies in some states is "troubling," the report's authors wrote, but it may reveal short-term fluctuations rather than long-term trends. Birthrates continued to decline between 2008 and 2010, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported another drop for teen abortions in 2009, suggesting that teen pregnancy declines are continuing over the long term.

"If abortion rates stay relatively unchanged through 2010, teen pregnancy rates in individual states, like birthrates, will decline," the authors wrote.

The full Guttmacher report, released today (Feb. 25) is available online.

Follow Stephanie Pappas on Twitter @sipappas or LiveScience @livescience. We're also on Facebook & Google+.

Copyright 2013 LiveScience, a TechMediaNetwork company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Also on HuffPost, from Child Care Aware of America:

The Most And Least Affordable States For Child Care
1. New York(01 of50)
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Average Annual Cost of Infant Care: $14,009State Median Income for Single Mother Family: $25,852State Median Income for a Two-Parent Family: $88,189 (credit:Alamy)
2. Minnesota(02 of50)
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Average Annual Cost of Infant Care: $13,579State Median Income for Single Mother Family: $26,123State Median Income for a Two-Parent Family: $87,271 (credit:Alamy)
3. Oregon(03 of50)
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Average Annual Cost of Infant Care: $11,079State Median Income for Single Mother Family: $22,250State Median Income for a Two-Parent Family: $72,166 (credit:Alamy)
4. Colorado(04 of50)
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Average Annual Cost of Infant Care: $12,621State Median Income for Single Mother Family: $26,366State Median Income for a Two-Parent Family: $83,063 (credit:Alamy)
5. Hawaii(05 of50)
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Average Annual Cost of Infant Care: $12,876State Median Income for Single Mother Family: $29,466State Median Income for a Two-Parent Family: $87,430 (credit:Alamy)
6. Kansas(06 of50)
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Average Annual Cost of Infant Care: $11,023State Median Income for Single Mother Family: $23,446State Median Income for a Two-Parent Family: $75,086 (credit:Alamy)
7. California(07 of50)
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Average Annual Cost of Infant Care: $11,823State Median Income for Single Mother Family: $27,534State Median Income for a Two-Parent Family: $80,796 (credit:Alamy)
8. Illinois(08 of50)
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Average Annual Cost of Infant Care: $12,199State Median Income for Single Mother Family: $24,833State Median Income for a Two-Parent Family: $84,779 (credit:Alamy)
9. Massachusetts(09 of50)
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Average Annual Cost of Infant Care: $14,980State Median Income for Single Mother Family: $27,922State Median Income for a Two-Parent Family: $105,537 (credit:Alamy)
10. Indiana(10 of50)
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Average Annual Cost of Infant Care: $9,880State Median Income for Single Mother Family: $22,178State Median Income for a Two-Parent Family: $73,270 (credit:Alamy)
10. Wisconsin(11 of50)
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Average Annual Cost of Infant Care: $10,775State Median Income for Single Mother Family: $23,568State Median Income for a Two-Parent Family: $79,589 (credit:Alamy)
12. Michigan(12 of50)
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Average Annual Cost of Infant Care: $10,114State Median Income for Single Mother Family: $21, 385State Median Income for a Two-Parent Family:$76,712 (credit:Alamy)
12. Washington(13 of50)
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Average Annual Cost of Infant Care: $10,920State Median Income for Single Mother Family: $25,731State Median Income for a Two-Parent Family: $82,870 (credit:Alamy)
14. Rhode Island(14 of50)
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Average Annual Cost of Infant Care: $11,830State Median Income for Single Mother family: $25,607State Median Income for a Two-Parent Family: $91,065 (credit:Alamy)
15. New Hampshire(15 of50)
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Average Annual Cost of Infant Care: $11,995State Median Income for Single Mother Family: $28,756State Median Income for a Two-Parent Family: $92,823 (credit:Alamy)
16. Maine(16 of50)
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Average Annual Cost of Infant Care: $9,256State Median Income for Single Mother Family: $21,940State Median Income for a Two-Parent Family: $72,196 (credit:Alamy)
16. Nevada(17 of50)
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Average Annual Cost of Infant Care: $9,413State Median Income for Single Mother Family: $29, 245State Median Income for a Two-Parent Family: $73,563 (credit:Alamy)
16. North Carolina(18 of50)
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Average Annual Cost of Infant Care: $9,185State Median Income for Single Mother Family: $21,344State Median Income for a Two-Parent Family: $72,022 (credit:Alamy)
16. Pennsylvania(19 of50)
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Average Annual Cost of Infant Care: $10,504Single Median Income for Single Mother Family: $23,472State Median Income for a Two-Parent Family: $82,141 (credit:Alamy)
20. Arizona(20 of50)
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Average Annual Cost of Infant Care: $8,946Single Median Income or Single Mother Family: $25,682State Median Income for a Two-Parent Family: $70,563 (credit:Alamy)
21. Vermont(21 of50)
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Average Annual Cost of Infant Care: $9,612State Median Income for Single Mother Family: $25,336State Median Income for a Two-Parent Family: $76,965 (credit:Alamy)
22. Montana(22 of50)
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Average Annual Cost of Infant Care: $8,307State Median Income for Single Mother Family: $20,333State Median Income for a Two-Parent Family: $68,574 (credit:Alamy)
23. Connecticut(23 of50)
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Average Annual Cost of Infant Care: $12,844State Median Income for Single Mother Family: $30,795State Median Income for a Two-Parent Family: $106,847 (credit:Alamy)
23. Maryland(24 of50)
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Average Annual Cost of Infant Care: $12,878State Median Income for Single Mother Family: $36,580State Median Income for a Two-Parent Family: $107,756 (credit:Alamy)
25. Iowa(25 of50)
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Average Annual Cost of Infant Care: $ 8,859State Median Income for Single Mother Family: $22,809State Median Income for a Two-Parent Family: $75,581 (credit:Alamy)
25. Texas(26 of50)
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Average Annual Cost of Infant Care: $8,323State Median Income for Single Mother Family: $22,705State Median Income for a Two-Parent Family: $71,308 (credit:Alamy)
27. Missouri(27 of50)
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Average Annual Cost of Infant Care: $8,580State Median Income for Single Mother Family: $21,748State Median Income for a Two-Parent Family: $73,880 (credit:Alamy)
27. Virginia(28 of50)
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Average Annual Cost of Infant Care: $10,670State Median income for Single Mother Family: $28,965State Median Income for a Two-Parent Family: $92,212 (credit:Alamy)
29. Tennessee(29 of50)
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Average Annual Cost of Infant Care: $7,748State Median Income for Single Mother Family: $20,254State Median Income for a Two-Parent Family: $68,223 (credit:Alamy)
30. Florida(30 of50)
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Average Annual Cost of Infant Care: $8,009State Median Income for Single Mother Family: $25,286State Median Income for a Two-Parent Family: $71,051 (credit:Alamy)
30. Utah(31 of50)
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Average Annual Cost of Infant Care: $7,848State Median Income for Single Mother Family: $27,626State Median Income for a Two-Parent Family: $69,638 (credit:Alamy)
32. Oklahoma(32 of50)
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Average Annual Cost of Infant Care: $7,288State Median Income for Single Mother Family: $20,272State Median Income for a Two-Parent Family: $65,458 (credit:Alamy)
33. West Virginia(33 of50)
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Average Annual Cost of Infant Care: $6,932State Median Income for Single Mother Family: $16,921State Median Income for a Two-Parent Family: $62,854 (credit:Alamy)
34. Delaware(34 of50)
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Average Annual Cost of Infant Care: $9,620State Median Income for Single Mother Family: $30,675State Median Income for a Two-Parent Family: $88,825 (credit:Alamy)
35. New Mexico(35 of50)
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Average Annual Cost of Infant Care: $6,843State Median Income for Single Mother Family: $21,742State Median Income for a Two-Parent Family: $64,842 (credit:Alamy)
36. Alaska(36 of50)
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Average Annual Cost of Infant Care: $9,336State Median Income for Single Mother Family: $31,134State Median Income for a Two-Parent Family: $89,794 (credit:Alamy)
37. New Jersey(37 of50)
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Average Annual Cost of Infant Care: $11,135State Median Income for Single Mother Family: $30,732State Median Income for a Two-Parent family: $107,663 (credit:<a target="_blank" href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1979_New_Jersey.jpg" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="MediaWiki:" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5b9cdb5ae4b03a1dcc8276a6" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1979_New_Jersey.jpg" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="0" data-vars-position-in-unit="15">MediaWiki:</a><a target="_blank" href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Holland%20with%20Boston" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Holland with Boston" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5b9cdb5ae4b03a1dcc8276a6" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Holland%20with%20Boston" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="1" data-vars-position-in-unit="16">Holland with Boston</a>)
37. Wyoming(38 of50)
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Average Annual Cost of Infant Care: $7,727State Median Income for Single Mother Family: $25,824State Median Income for a Two-Parent Family: $75,169 (credit:Alamy)
39. Nebraska(39 of50)
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Average Annual Cost of Infant Care: $7,639State Median Income for Single Mother Family: $23,601State Median Income for a Two-Parent Family: $74,787 (credit:Alamy)
39. Ohio(40 of50)
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Average Annual Cost of Infant Care: $7,889State Median Income for Single Mother Family: $20,765State Median Income for a Two-Parent Family: $77,032 (credit:Alamy)
41. North Dakota(41 of50)
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Average Annual Cost of Infant Care: $7,705State Median Income for Single Mother Family: $21,545State Median Income for a Two-Parent Family: $77,544 (credit:Alamy)
42. Kentucky(42 of50)
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Average Annual Cost of Infant Care: $6,594State Median Income for Single Mother Family: $18,735State Median Income for a Two-Parent Family: $67,998 (credit:Alamy)
43. Georgia(43 of50)
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Average Annual Cost of Infant Care: $7,030State Median Income for Single Mother Family: $23,602State Income for a Two-Parent Family: $74,939 (credit:Alamy)
43. Idaho(44 of50)
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Average Annual Cost of Infant Care: $5,834State Median Income for Single Mother Family: $22,486State Median Income for a Two-Parent Family: $62,051 (credit:Alamy)
45. Arkansas(45 of50)
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Average Annual Cost of Infant Care: $5,437State Median Income for Single Mother Family: $18,683State Median Income for a Two-Parent Family: $62,035 (credit:Alamy)
46. South Carolina(46 of50)
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Average Annual Cost of Infant Care: $5,855State Median Income for Single Mother Family: $20,769State Median Income for a Two-Parent Family: $71,480 (credit:Alamy)
46. South Dakota(47 of50)
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Average Annual Cost of Infant Care: $5,947State Median Income for Single Mother Family: $22,989State Median Income for a Two-Parent Family: $72,264 (credit:Alamy)
48. Louisiana(48 of50)
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Average Annual Cost of Infant Care: $5,901State Median Income for Single Mother Family: $19,853State Median Income for a Two-Parent Family: $77,089 (credit:Alamy)
49. Alabama(49 of50)
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Average Annual Cost of Infant Care: $5,356State Median Income for Single Mother Family: $19,492State Median Income for a Two-Parent Family: $70,657 (credit:Alamy)
50. Mississippi(50 of50)
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Average Annual cost of Infant Care: $4,591State Median Income for Single Mother Family: $17,796State Median Income for a Two-Parent Family: $65,668 (credit:Alamy)

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