Teen Birth Rates in the United States, 1940 – 2008.

From 1940 to 1957, the teen birth rate increased 78 percent to a record high.

The birth rate dropped fairly steadily from the end of the 1950s through the

mid-1980s, but then increased 24 percent between 1986  and 1991. Between 1991 and 2005, the teen birth rate decreased 34 percent to a record low of 40.5 in 2005. The

teen birth rate increased 5 percent between 2005 and 2007. However, between 2007 and 2008 the teen birth rate decreased 2 percent. The chart and the table in this document reflect births per 1,000 teen girls aged 15-19 in the United States and are the most recent national data available. 

Resources:

The National Campaign. Teen Birth Rates in the United States,

1940 – 2008. Retrieved on Feb. 25, 2013. From the National Campaign website: http://www.thenationalcampaign.org/resources/pdf/TBR_1940-2006.pdf