Is Twin Childbearing on the Decline? Twin Births in the United States, 2014-2018.

Following years of relative stability, twin births began to climb in the United States in the early 1980s, rising 79% from 1980 to 2014 (1,2). In 1980, one in every 53 births was a twin, compared with one in every 29 births in 2014 (1,2). The increase in twinning over the more than three decades was widespread, occurring across age and race and Hispanic-origin groups, and in all U.S. states (1,2). It is important to track twin birth rates as twins are at greater risk than singletons for poor outcomes, including preterm birth and neonatal morbidity and mortality (1,3,4). This report presents trends in twin childbearing overall for 1980-2018, and by maternal age, race and Hispanic origin, and state of residence for 2014-2018. All material appearing in this report is in the public domain and may be reproduced or copied without permission; citation as to source, however, is appreciated.