Florida Experiences Big Decline in Births

As the state’s unemployment has risen, something else has dropped – our birthrate. Florida's baby bust is one of the worst in the nation.

Since the recession began two years ago, the number of babies being born in Florida has dropped by 8 percent. Only Arizona and Rhode Island saw a bigger decline.

Amy Baker of the state Office of Economic and Demographic Research says it’s the economy.

“In the short run, we know that during recessions, people tend to make the decision to delay having children,” she said.

It’s also a longer-term trend of people putting off childbirth and having fewer babies when they do.

About 20,000 fewer babies were born in Florida in 2009 than just two years earlier. – Dropping from about 240,000 to 220,000.

Baker expects those numbers to moderate, but doesn’t expect a baby boom any time soon.