Analysis: N.D. was one of few states to have birth rate increase in 2008

When it comes to the economy, North Dakota is once again the exception to the rule, this time in the number of babies born during the recession, according to a new Pew Research Center analysis released Tuesday.

The center looked at the role the economic recession has played in birth rates, analyzing data from the 25 states that had final 2008 birth numbers available.

What researchers found, perhaps not too surprisingly, was the number of babies born across the country declined in 2008 — the 25 states had 2.29 million births in 2008, down from 2.33 million in 2007.

That decline came after rising to the highest birth rate in two decades. The states’ combined birth rate went from 69.9 births per 1,000 women aged 15 to 44 in 2007 down to 68.8 in 2008.

But North Dakota was one of only five states that saw a gain in its 2008 fertility rate, climbing up to 8,931 births — a 1.7 percent increase, the second-highest growth topped only by Hawaii’s 2.0 percent increase.

Researchers attributed North Dakota being able to buck the trend to its relatively stable economy and growth. It had a 6.2 percent increase in its per capita income in 2008, the highest among the 25 states, and also boasted the second-lowest 2007 house foreclosure rate.

Minnesota had the 10th largest birth rate decrease among the 25 states, tying with South Dakota and Iowa for a 1.2 percent drop from the 2007 birth rate. But it also had a much less noticeable growth in per capita income — only 1.5 percent in 2008, the same as economically devastated California.

Arizona saw the biggest impact on its birth rate, seeing a 4.6 percent decrease in 2008. Researchers said its 0.1 percent decrease in per capita income — second only to Florida as the country’s worst — and sixth-worst house price change probably played a role in Arizona not welcoming as many babies into the world in 2008.

Reach Johnson at (701) 780-1105; (800) 477-6572, ext. 105; or send e-mail to rjohnson@gfherald.com.

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