Adolescent Birth Rate

King County’s adolescent birth rate was 2.4 births per 1,000 female teens from 2017-2021. The adolescent birth rate is defined as live births among females ages 15-17. Adolescent birthing people are at risk for pregnancy complications and their children are more vulnerable to health complications. Teen pregnancy and childbearing bring significant economic and social costs through both immediate and long-term impacts. Preventing adolescent birth is important in reducing infant mortality and improving maternal health.   

• Race and ethnicity: The adolescent birth rates of Hispanic (7.6 per 1,000), Black (4.1 per 1,000), and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (6.2 per 1,000) people were greater than the overall King County rate.  

• Income: The adolescent birth rate in high poverty neighborhoods (5.7 per 1,000) was higher than both the King County average and lower poverty neighborhoods (0.5-2.6 per 1,000).    

• Geography: The adolescent birth rate in South King County (4.0 per 1,000) was greater than the rate for overall King County. Rates in East and North King County (0.8 per 1,000) were lower than the overall King County rate.  

• Trends: King County’s adolescent birth rate continues to decrease. The adolescent birth rate for 2019-2021 was 2.3 per 1,000 female teens, compared to 3.4 for 2015-2017. Over this same time period, it also declined from 5.5 to 3.7 in South King County and from 11.9 to 7.0 among Hispanic teens.