Climate concerns, economic instability, rising political tensions, infertility, lower teen birth rates and an increasingly affluent society have all contributed to a declining birth rate nationally and a dwindling population of kids in La Plata County.
According to statistics released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, just under 3.6 million babies were born in the U.S. in 2023 – 76,000 fewer than in 2022 and the lowest one-year total since 1979.
According to U.S. Census Bureau data, the number of children under 5 in La Plata County declined by about 300 from 2020 to 2024.
What are your reasons for choosing not to have children in La Plata County? The Durango Herald wants to know.
Fill out the form below or email Herald reporter Elizabeth Pond at epond@durangoherald.com to share your thoughts and experiences.
epond@durangoherald.com
