LIVE BIRTHS
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Since 1970, Florida?s resident live births have increased. The largest increase was
between 1980 and 1990, when births increased from 131,811 to 199,146. Between
2000 and 2010, births increased from 204,030 to 214,519. Further analysis of this
decade shows gains in the number of births until 2007, when the highest number
(239,120) was reached. In 2013, the number of resident live births increased to
215,194, after decreasing for five consecutive years.
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In 2013, Florida experienced a birth rate of 11.1 births per 1,000 population. This is
a decrease of 0.9 percent from the 2012 rate of 11.2.
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In 2013, the resident birth rate for whites was 10.1 births per 1,000 population and
15.2 births per 1,000 population for blacks.
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Both the number and percentage of resident births to mothers aged 18 and under
decreased between 2012 and 2013. The number decreased from 8,885 to 7,660 and
the percent from 4.2 to 3.6.
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Comparing the percentage of resident births to mothers of 18 years or younger by
race, the percent for black mothers (5.4 percent) is 1.7 times higher than the
percent for white mothers (3.1 percent).
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Between 2012 and 2013, the percent of resident live births with birthweights less
than 2,500 grams (5 lbs. 8.2 oz.) decreased from 8.6 to 8.5. The percent of resident
live births with birthweights less than 1,500 grams (3 lbs. 4.9 oz.) was also
decreased from 2012 to 2013 at 1.5. The percent of resident live births with
birthweights of 4,000 grams (8 lbs. 13.1 oz.) and heavier was 6.9 in 2013, the same
as in 2012.
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About 12 out of every 25 resident live births (48.0 percent) were to unwed mothers.
For blacks, about twelve out of every seventeen births (70.7 percent) were to
unwed mothers. Among whites, about eight out of every nineteen births (42.5
percent) were to unwed mothers. Among other races, approximately five out of
every seventeen live births (29.5 percent) were to unwed mothers.
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Of the live births to unwed mothers, 7.0 percent were to women 18 years old and
younger.
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Mothers of Hispanic origin accounted for 27.5 percent of the resident live births.
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The majority of infants born during 2013 had a white mother (71.2 percent of
Florida?s total resident live births). About twenty-three percent had a black mother
and the mother of 5.7 percent were of other race.
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Of the resident live births, 97.9 percent occurred in hospitals. Physicians attended
89.2 percent of the hospital births.
