The Utah Women & Leadership Project (UWLP) at Utah State University recently published a research brief, “Utah Women and Fertility: Trends and Changes from 1970–2023.” This research examines how cultural, social, economic, religious, and personal factors have shaped childbearing decisions in Utah over time. Using state and national data, the report explores whether Utah’s fertility trends align with or diverge from national patterns. The analysis highlights four key areas: fertility trends, marital status, cultural contexts by decade, and considerations for the future.
Fertility Trends from 1970 to 2023: Over the past 50 years, Utah’s total fertility rate (TFR) has consistently been higher than the national average, though both have declined. Utah women had the largest gap in 1980, averaging 1.3 more children than U.S. women, but by 2023, that difference narrowed to just .2. Overall, Utah’s TFR is now 45.5% lower than it was five decades ago, compared to a 36% decline nationally.
Marital Status Trends from 1970 – 2021: Marital patterns in Utah have shifted with fertility trends. The share of women who have never married rose from 22% in 1980 to 28.8% in 2023, while overall marriage rates declined by 8.1% in Utah and 15.4% nationally. Divorce rates followed national patterns, rising from 3.8% to 10.1% over the same period. Most Utah children still grow up in two-parent households, and single-mother households have remained relatively low, peaking at 8.1% in 1990 and falling to 6.5% in 2023.
Trends and Data by Decade:
- 1970s: Utah women averaged 3.3 children and gave birth at approximately age 21. Most (62.9%) were married, while divorce was low (3.8%). Social changes like birth control access, no-fault divorce laws, and the Pregnancy Discrimination Act shaped family choices.
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1980s: Fertility declined slightly to 3.1 children, with average first birth at 21.9. Divorce peaked (6.6%), and more women entered higher education and the workforce. Family dynamics shifted, with more working mothers and later childbearing.
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1990s: Fertility dropped to 2.7 children, and the average age at first birth rose to 22.9. Marriage declined (60.6%), divorce rose (8.7%), and single-mother households peaked. The Family and Medical Leave Act expanded protections for working parents.
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2000s: Fertility stabilized around 2.8, with first births at 23.3. Marriage continued to fall (59.4%), and Utah became more racially diverse (about 11% non-White). The Great Recession contributed to delayed childbearing, while LDS leadership emphasized family size as a private decision.
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2010s: Fertility fell to 2.5 children, and the average age at first birth rose to 24.5. Marriage rates dropped to 58.3%, while divorce rates peaked at 10.1%. Rising housing costs and student debt delayed family formation, while LDS policy changes and growing diversity reshaped family life.
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2020s: Fertility fell below replacement levels for the first time (1.9 in 2020; 1.8 in 2023). Utah women married later (median 25.2), with rising rates of never-married (28.8%) and divorce (~10%). The pandemic disrupted short-term fertility, while long-term declines reflected financial pressures like housing and childcare.
Looking Ahead: Utah historically relied on births for population growth, but declining fertility rates have shifted growth to migration, creating pressures on housing and water. Social changes, including same-sex marriage and state-level abortion laws, may influence fertility patterns. Families in Utah are evolving. Women are marrying and having children later, more remain unmarried, and divorce rates are relatively steady. It would be wise for policymakers to consider these trends when planning for population replacement, labor needs, and aging-related costs. Supportive policies – such as tax credits, childcare, housing, parental leave, healthcare, and food programs – can help families plan for and raise children.
“Looking to the future, community leaders will need to carefully consider how to balance resources among population needs,” said Susan Madsen, UWLP founding director and co-author of the report. “Utah policymakers must help support women and families so they are empowered to make childbearing choices that are right for them. When we support Utah women and families, we will help all Utahns thrive.”
April Townsend, research fellow for UWLP, co-authored the report.
The “A Bolder Way Forward” initiative provides opportunities for Utahns to learn and contribute to meaningful change across 18 areas of focus. For more information, visit the UWLP website at utwomen.org. The UWLP is affiliated with the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business and USU Extension.