Smartphone Surge Linked to Historic Drop in US Fertility Rates

WHO:

CNN - Caitlin Myers, an economist with Middlebury College and the National Bureau of Economic Research, is the lead author of the new paper.

CNN - Ezekiel Hooper, stepson of Caitlin Myers, co-authored the working paper.

WHAT:

CNN - The US fertility rate has been trending down for decades.

CNN - A new study suggests that the introduction of smartphones is a significant factor in the decline of the US fertility rate.

CNN - The study estimates that early diffusion of the iPhone caused between a third and a half of the decline in the general US fertility rate between 2007 and 2011.

CNN - The birth rate among 15- to 19-year-olds fell about 26% between 2007 and 2011 in counties with broad smartphone access.

CNN - For women in their 20s, the birth rate fell 15% in counties with broad access, compared to a 10% drop in those with limited access.

CNN - The birth rate for women in their 30s fell slightly in counties with broad access, while it rose in other counties.

WHERE:

CNN - The study compared fertility rates in counties with varying levels of smartphone access across the United States.

WHEN:

CNN - The significant decline in fertility rates was noted between 2007 and 2011.

WHY:

CNN - Researchers theorize that smartphones may have shifted time and attention away from physical interactions, leading to lower fertility rates.

CNN - Drops in unintended births to young people are a key factor in the broader decline in fertility rates in the US.

HOW:

CNN - The researchers tracked the spread of AT&T mobile broadband and compared changes in fertility rates with the share of the population living with access to the network.

(UPDATED June 17, 2026 21:42 UTC)

A new study led by economist Caitlin Myers from Middlebury College suggests that the rise of smartphones has played a significant role in the decline of the US fertility rate, which has been decreasing for decades. The research indicates that the early diffusion of the iPhone may have accounted for between a third and a half of the overall drop in fertility rates from 2007 to 2011, particularly affecting younger women in counties with broad smartphone access. The study also highlights that the birth rate among 15- to 19-year-olds fell by about 26% during this period in those areas, while women in their 20s experienced a 15% decline, compared to a 10% drop in regions with limited smartphone access.