New Hampshire is consistently ranked among the lowest in the nation in terms of teen birth rates, and the teen birth rate has continued to decline in recent years. In 2021, the teen birth rate for the state was 4.9, from 6.3 in 2020, 9.7 in 2015, and 15.6 in 2010. However, the teen birth rate varies widely across the state. Rockingham county had the lowest teen birth rate in the state at 2.5, while Sullivan county had the highest at 13 (rate not available for Carroll county). Some New Hampshire counties have seen significant declines in teen birth rate -- the teen birth rate in Coos county is down to 7.3 in 2021 from 23.6 in 2019 and 16.3 in 2018, for example.

According to America's Health Rankings, having a child as a teen is associated with health, social, and economic costs -- "Teen mothers are significantly more likely to drop out of high school and face unemployment" and children of teen mothers are at higher risk for negative health outcomes as well. Despite continued declines in teen birth rates, disparities persist along economic, geographic, racial-ethnic, income, and educational lines. For instance, teens living in low-income counties have higher teen birth rates than teens living in higher income counties. American Indian/Alaskan Native, Hispanic, non-Hispanic Black, and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander teens have a birth rate twice as high as non-Hispanic white teens,¹ and teen birth rates are especially high across Appalachia and the South.

Addressing these disparities in risk is key, as teen pregnancy and birth are related to significant costs for tax payers, including elevated costs in health care, foster care, and incarceration, as well as lost tax revenue from teen parents’ attenuated educational attainment and employment potential.<sup>2 

1</sup> America's Health Rankings, Annual Report. Teen Births, New Hampshire. https://www.americashealthrankings.org/explore/annual/measure/TeenBirth_MCH/state/NH

² Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2017). “Teen Pregnancy in the United States.” Retrieved April 18, 2018.

New Hampshire is consistently ranked among the lowest in the nation in terms of teen birth rates, and the teen birth rate has continued to decline in recent years. In 2021, the teen birth rate for the state was 4.9, from 6.3 in 2020, 9.7 in 2015, and 15.6 in 2010. However, the teen birth rate varies widely across the state. Rockingham county had the lowest teen birth rate in the state at 2.5, while Sullivan county had the highest at 13 (rate not available for Carroll county). Some New Hampshire counties have seen significant declines in teen birth rate -- the teen birth rate in Coos county is down to 7.3 in 2021 from 23.6 in 2019 and 16.3 in 2018, for example.

According to America's Health Rankings, having a child as a teen is associated with health, social, and economic costs -- "Teen mothers are significantly more likely to drop out of high school and face unemployment" and children of teen mothers are at higher risk for negative health outcomes as well. Despite continued declines in teen birth rates, disparities persist along economic, geographic, racial-ethnic, income, and educational lines. For instance, teens living in low-income counties have higher teen birth rates than teens living in higher income counties. American Indian/Alaskan Native, Hispanic, non-Hispanic Black, and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander teens have a birth rate twice as high as non-Hispanic white teens,¹ and teen birth rates are especially high across Appalachia and the South.

Addressing these disparities in risk is key, as teen pregnancy and birth are related to significant costs for tax payers, including elevated costs in health care, foster care, and incarceration, as well as lost tax revenue from teen parents’ attenuated educational attainment and employment potential.<sup>2 

1</sup> America's Health Rankings, Annual Report. Teen Births, New Hampshire. https://www.americashealthrankings.org/explore/annual/measure/TeenBirth_MCH/state/NH

² Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2017). “Teen Pregnancy in the United States.” Retrieved April 18, 2018.