The number of births steadily decreased during the 1990s, plateaued during the early 2000s, and steadily increased between 2006 and 2016. The number has decreased each year since.
Number of Births in Washington, DC 1990-2021
Sources: 1990-2006 from KIDS COUNT; 2007-2009 and 2011-2014 from NCHS, Division of Vital Statistics, Natality public-use data; 2010 and 2015-2021 from Natality Data, Vital Records Division, Center for Policy, Planning and Evaluation, DC Department of Health Note: 2010 and 2015-2021 excludes non DC resident births and includes DC resident births occurring in other states.
Historically, the greatest number of births has been in Wards 8 and 4. Ward 8 has experienced a steady decline in births since its peak in 2016. Ward 4 births increased by 6% between 2020 and 2021 surpassing Ward 8. Wards 2 and 3 have the fewest births compared to other wards. However, Ward 2 births increased by 48% between 2020 and 2021. Ward 7 is the only ward with steady annual gains after 2018.
Number of Births by Ward, 2010-2021
Sources: Natality Data, Vital Records Division, Center for Policy, Planning and Evaluation, DC Department of Health Note: Excludes non DC resident births and includes DC resident births occuring in other states. Wards are 2012 boundaries.
Birth rates, measured as the number of births per 1,000 population, decreased between 1990 and 2000 from 19.45 to 13.40 births per 1,000 population. The rate increased to 15.22 births per 1,000 population in 2010 and is now estimated to have dipped to 12.95 births per 1,000 population.
Birth Rate in Washington, DC, 1990-2021
Sources: 1990 and 2000 from KIDS COUNT; 2010, 2020-2021 from Natality Data, Vital Records Division, Center for Policy, Planning and Evaluation, DC Department of Health; population from US Census Bureau
