Dive Into Information About Teen Birth Rates in Tucson, Arizona MSA

How are we doing?

In 2022, the Tucson Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) had a rate of 16.6 births per 1,000 females age 15-19. That ranked Tucson sixth among peer western MSAs. Portland had the lowest rate at 10.0, while El Paso had the highest at 30.7 births per 1,000 females age 15-19. Tucson’s teen birth rate has declined over the past decade and a half and is below the state rate of 18.7. Tucson’s teen birth rate fell below the national rate in 2022 for the first time in seventeen years.

Why is it important?     

Teen parents and their children face immediate and long-term impacts related to their health, education, social, and economic opportunities. Teen mothers typically have lower educational attainment and are at a greater risk of living in poverty. That can have considerable social and financial costs to the community as a whole.

How do we compare?

Pima County (which is also considered the Tucson metropolitan area) had a 2022 teen birth rate of 16.6 births per 1,000 females age 15-19. Pima County's rate was just below the U.S. rate of 17.0 but better than the state of Arizona. Compared to other Arizona counties, Pima County had the second-lowest teen birth rate in the state; Coconino County had the lowest rate in 2022 with 11.2 births per 1,000 females age 15-19, while La Paz County had the highest rate at 37.6. Arizona’s teen birth rate of 18.7 placed it seventh, tied with Nevada, when compared to the 10 western states. To view more state and county-level data for Arizona visit the Teen Birth Rate Comparison Page.

In the Tucson MSA, Hispanic or Latino teens had the highest birth rate among the races and ethnicities reported in 2022 with 22.8 births per 1,000 females age 15-19. The teen birth rate for Black or African Americans was 16.4 and 8.2 for whites. Among the 12 western MSAs, El Paso posted the highest teen birth rates for both Hispanics or Latinos and whites, while San Diego posted the lowest rates for those same groups. In Las Vegas, Black or African Americans had a teen birth rate significantly higher than found in the other western MSAs at 33.0.

What are the key trends?

Teen birth rates have steadily declined since 2006 when the rates in the Tucson MSA and the state of Arizona were 54 and 63 births per 1,000 females age 15-19, respectively. National level teen birth rate data is only available since 2011 but has also steadily fallen from 38 births per 1,000 females age 15-19. The teen birth rate declined by 69.3% in the Tucson MSA and 70.3% statewide since 2006. The teen birth rate in the U.S. has declined by 55.3% since 2011.

How is it measured?

The teen birth rate represents the number of live births to mothers 15 to 19 years of age per 1,000 females. The source is the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Vital Statistics System, as made available through the County Health Rankings which calculates the rates based on population estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau.