Special Report

How Many People Were Born the Year You Were Born

Steven Peters

Published: April 10, 2017 12:39 pm

Last Updated: January 12, 2020 1:07 pm

The birth rate in the United States is lower today than at any point in the nation’s history. As the baby boomer generation — the largest generation in America’s history — is reaching retirement age, this continued decline in the birth rate could cause economic issues in the future as the working generation may struggle to support the retired generation.

To highlight changes in birth rates throughout America’s modern history, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the number of people born every year since 1933. The birth rate in 2015 was 12.4 per 1,000 Americans, less than half the birth rate in 1947 of 25.8 per 1,000 Americans — the highest rate of all years examined.

Birth rates tend to decline during bad economic times as young adults may choose to limit the size of their family or delay starting one. This is evident in the relatively low birth rates in the 1930s amid the Great Depression and during the recent recession.

Click here to see how many people were born the year you were born.

After World War II, birth rates shot up and the nation experienced a period of record population growth. In each of the baby boom years from 1946 to 1964, the birth rate was higher than 20 per 1,000 Americans — a level that has not occurred since.

More babies were born in 1955 than in 2015, even though the population then was roughly half the size it was in 2015.

To determine how many people were born the year you were born, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the number of births and the birth rate per 1,000 people from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Vital Statistics of the United States report series. Population figures were from the Bureau of Economic Analysis. The most popular names for each year came from the Social Security Administration.

Here is a timeline of births in each year, since 1933.

Source: U.S. National Archives and Records Administration / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 2,081,232
> Population: 125,578,763
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 16.6
> Most popular boy name: Robert
> Most popular girl name: Mary

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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 2,167,636
> Population: 126,373,773
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 17.2
> Most popular boy name: Robert
> Most popular girl name: Mary

Source: blokes 2012 / Flickr

> Births: 2,155,105
> Population: 127,250,232
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 16.9
> Most popular boy name: Robert
> Most popular girl name: Mary

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Source: St. Paul Pioneer Press / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 2,144,790
> Population: 128,053,180
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 16.7
> Most popular boy name: Robert
> Most popular girl name: Mary

Source: State Library of New South Wales / Flickr

> Births: 2,203,337
> Population: 128,824,829
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 17.1
> Most popular boy name: Robert
> Most popular girl name: Mary

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Source: Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 2,286,962
> Population: 129,824,939
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 17.6
> Most popular boy name: Robert
> Most popular girl name: Mary

Source: Library of Congress / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 2,265,588
> Population: 130,879,718
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 17.3
> Most popular boy name: Robert
> Most popular girl name: Mary

Source: U.S. National Archives and Records Administration / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 2,360,399
> Population: 132,122,446
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 17.9
> Most popular boy name: James
> Most popular girl name: Mary

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Source: National Archives and Records Administration, Franklin D. Roosevelt Library (NLFDR) / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 2,513,427
> Population: 133,402,471
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 18.8
> Most popular boy name: James
> Most popular girl name: Mary

Source: Australian War Memorial collection / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 2,808,996
> Population: 134,859,553
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 20.8
> Most popular boy name: James
> Most popular girl name: Mary

Source: pingnews.com / Flickr

> Births: 2,934,860
> Population: 136,739,353
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 21.5
> Most popular boy name: James
> Most popular girl name: Mary

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Source: U.S. Navy National Museum of Naval Aviation / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 2,794,800
> Population: 138,397,345
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 20.2
> Most popular boy name: James
> Most popular girl name: Mary

Source: National Archives and Records Administration / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 2,735,456
> Population: 139,928,165
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 19.5
> Most popular boy name: James
> Most popular girl name: Mary

Source: Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 3,288,672
> Population: 141,388,566
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 23.3
> Most popular boy name: James
> Most popular girl name: Mary

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Source: Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 3,699,940
> Population: 144,126,071
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 25.8
> Most popular boy name: James
> Most popular girl name: Linda

Source: Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 3,535,068
> Population: 146,631,302
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 24.2
> Most popular boy name: James
> Most popular girl name: Linda

Source: The U.S. National Archives / Flickr

> Births: 3,559,529
> Population: 149,188,130
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 23.9
> Most popular boy name: James
> Most popular girl name: Linda

Source: TaliaMcGeorgePhotography / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 3,554,149
> Population: 152,271,417
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 23.6
> Most popular boy name: James
> Most popular girl name: Linda

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Source: Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 3,750,850
> Population: 154,877,889
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 24.5
> Most popular boy name: James
> Most popular girl name: Linda

Source: Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 3,846,986
> Population: 157,552,740
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 24.7
> Most popular boy name: James
> Most popular girl name: Linda

Source: Library of Congress / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 3,902,120
> Population: 160,184,192
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 24.7
> Most popular boy name: Robert
> Most popular girl name: Mary

Source: Seattle Municipal Archives / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 4,017,362
> Population: 163,025,854
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 24.9
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Mary

Source: Seattle Municipal Archives / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 4,047,295
> Population: 165,931,202
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 24.6
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Mary

Source: ABC Television / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 4,163,090
> Population: 168,903,031
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 24.9
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Mary

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Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 4,254,784
> Population: 171,984,130
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 25.0
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Mary

Source: National Archives and Records Administration / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 4,203,812
> Population: 174,881,904
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 24.3
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Mary

Source: The Sporting News Archives / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 4,244,796
> Population: 177,829,628
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 24.0
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Mary

Source: Alden Jewell / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 4,257,850
> Population: 180,671,158
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 23.7
> Most popular boy name: David
> Most popular girl name: Mary

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Source: The U.S. National Archives / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 4,268,326
> Population: 183,691,481
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 23.3
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Mary

Source: Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 4,167,362
> Population: 186,537,737
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 22.4
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Lisa

Source: Executive Office of the President of the United States / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 4,098,020
> Population: 189,241,798
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 21.7
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Lisa

Source: Harry Pot, / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 4,027,490
> Population: 191,888,791
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 21.1
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Lisa

Source: Mennonite Church USA Archives / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 3,760,358
> Population: 194,302,963
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 19.4
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Lisa

Source: Gizurr / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 3,606,274
> Population: 196,560,338
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 18.4
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Lisa

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Source: JOHN LLOYD / Flickr

> Births: 3,520,959
> Population: 198,712,056
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 17.8
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Lisa

Source: Ollie Atkins, White House photographer / Library of Congress / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 3,501,564
> Population: 200,706,052
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 17.6
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Lisa

Source: NASA / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 3,600,206
> Population: 202,676,946
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 17.9
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Lisa

Source: Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 3,731,386
> Population: 205,052,174
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 18.4
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Jennifer

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Source: Leena A. Krohn / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 3,555,970
> Population: 207,660,677
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 17.2
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Jennifer

Source: U.S. National Archives and Records Administration / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 3,258,411
> Population: 209,896,021
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 15.6
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Jennifer

Source: sterferg / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 3,136,965
> Population: 211,908,788
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 14.9
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Jennifer

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Source: ABC Television / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 3,159,958
> Population: 213,853,928
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 14.9
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Jennifer

Source: Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 3,144,198
> Population: 215,973,199
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 14.8
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Jennifer

Source: White House Photograph Courtesy Gerald R. Ford Library / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 3,167,788
> Population: 218,035,164
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 14.8
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Jennifer

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Source: Derzsi Elekes Andor / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 3,326,632
> Population: 220,239,425
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 15.4
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Jennifer

Source: Steve Morgan / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 3,333,279
> Population: 222,584,545
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 15.3
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Jennifer

Source: Thomas J. O'Halloran, U.S. News & World Report / Library of Congress / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 3,494,398
> Population: 225,055,487
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 15.9
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Jennifer

Source: Bogaerts, Rob / Anefo / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 3,612,258
> Population: 227,224,681
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 15.9
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Jennifer

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Source: White House Photographic Office / The National Archives and Records Administration / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 3,629,238
> Population: 229,465,714
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 15.8
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Jennifer

Source: Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 3,680,537
> Population: 231,664,458
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 15.9
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Jennifer

Source: Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 3,638,933
> Population: 233,791,994
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 15.6
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Jennifer

Source: Marcin Wichary / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 3,669,141
> Population: 235,824,902
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 15.6
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Jennifer

Source: Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 3,760,561
> Population: 237,923,795
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 15.8
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Jessica

Source: A1C Nancy Smelser / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 3,756,547
> Population: 240,132,887
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 15.6
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Jessica

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Source: Virginia Tehan / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 3,809,394
> Population: 242,288,918
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 15.7
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Jessica

Source: National Park Service / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 3,909,510
> Population: 244,498,982
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 16.0
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Jessica

Source: Library of Congress / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 4,040,958
> Population: 246,819,230
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 16.4
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Jessica

Source: Andrew Thomas / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 4,158,212
> Population: 249,464,396
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 16.7
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Ashley

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Source: U.S. Air Force / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 4,110,907
> Population: 252,153,092
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 16.2
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Ashley

Source: Gary B. Edstrom / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 4,065,014
> Population: 255,029,699
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 15.8
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Ashley

Source: Official White House photograph / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 4,000,240
> Population: 257,782,608
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 15.4
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Jessica

Source: Andrea Booher / FEMA / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 3,952,767
> Population: 260,327,021
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 15.0
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Jessica

Source: NASA / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 3,899,589
> Population: 262,803,276
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 14.6
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Jessica

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 3,891,494
> Population: 265,228,572
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 14.4
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Emily

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Source: Kees de Vos / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 3,880,894
> Population: 267,783,607
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 14.2
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Emily

Source: Flickr user Kevin Jarrett / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 3,941,553
> Population: 270,248,003
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 14.3
> Most popular boy name: Michael
> Most popular girl name: Emily

Source: Grj23 / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 3,959,417
> Population: 272,690,813
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 14.2
> Most popular boy name: Jacob
> Most popular girl name: Emily

Source: Rob Boudon / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 4,058,814
> Population: 282,162,411
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 14.4
> Most popular boy name: Jacob
> Most popular girl name: Emily

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Source: SFC Thomas R. Roberts / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 4,025,933
> Population: 284,968,955
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 14.1
> Most popular boy name: Jacob
> Most popular girl name: Emily

Source: Sergeant Joseph R. Chenelly, United States Marine Corps / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 4,021,726
> Population: 287,625,193
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 13.9
> Most popular boy name: Jacob
> Most popular girl name: Emily

Source: National Archive Catalog / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 4,089,950
> Population: 290,107,933
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 14.1
> Most popular boy name: Jacob
> Most popular girl name: Emily

Source: Tech. Sgt. Jerry Morrison Jr., U.S. Air Force / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 4,112,052
> Population: 292,805,298
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 14.0
> Most popular boy name: Jacob
> Most popular girl name: Emily

Source: Jocelyn Augustino / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 4,138,349
> Population: 295,516,599
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 14.0
> Most popular boy name: Jacob
> Most popular girl name: Emily

Source: Kjetil Ree / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 4,265,555
> Population: 298,379,912
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 14.3
> Most popular boy name: Jacob
> Most popular girl name: Emily

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Source: Ben Stanfield / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 4,316,233
> Population: 301,231,207
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 14.3
> Most popular boy name: Jacob
> Most popular girl name: Emily

Source: CODEPINK Women For Peace / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 4,247,694
> Population: 304,093,966
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 14.0
> Most popular boy name: Jacob
> Most popular girl name: Emma

Source: Master Sgt. Cecilio Ricardo, U.S. Air Force / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 4,130,665
> Population: 306,771,529
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 13.5
> Most popular boy name: Jacob
> Most popular girl name: Isabella

Source: U.S. Coast Guard / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 3,999,386
> Population: 309,346,863
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 12.9
> Most popular boy name: Jacob
> Most popular girl name: Isabella

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Source: David Shankbone / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 3,953,590
> Population: 311,718,857
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 12.7
> Most popular boy name: Jacob
> Most popular girl name: Sophia

Source: New Jersey National Guard / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 3,952,841
> Population: 314,102,623
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 12.6
> Most popular boy name: Jacob
> Most popular girl name: Sophia

Source: White House / Sonya Hebert / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 3,932,181
> Population: 316,427,395
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 12.4
> Most popular boy name: Noah
> Most popular girl name: Sophia

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Source: TechCrunch / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 3,988,076
> Population: 318,907,401
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 12.5
> Most popular boy name: Noah
> Most popular girl name: Emma

Source: Difference engine / Wikimedia Commons

> Births: 3,978,497
> Population: 321,418,820
> Birth rate (per 1,000): 12.4
> Most popular boy name: Noah
> Most popular girl name: Emma