Teen birth rates remain a critical public health and social issue in Oklahoma, affecting everyone from city centers to our rural neighborhoods. While the state has made meaningful progress over recent years, data shows that Oklahoma still struggles with rates that are higher than the national average and that these rates are often accompanied by persistent disparities.
A Snapshot of Teen Birth Rates
In 2024, Oklahoma continued to see a decline in its overall teen birth rate, building on long-term progress. Birth rates are calculated as births per 1,000 people, with teen birth rates commonly pulled from those age 15-19. In 2024, Oklahoma County reported a significant drop in its teen birth rate compared to past decades, with trends showing downward movement since at least 2008.
Despite this progress, Oklahoma continues to rank among the states with the highest teen birth rates, and Oklahoma County has the highest number of teen births in the state.
The data can cause mixed reactions. There has been real success in lowering teen births in Oklahoma, but underlying issues remain. We’d like to credit our partners for the successful drop in teen births, as they have been offering consistent sexual health education during the time the rates have lowered, but these organizations often have to play defense just to continue the work we know is making a positive impact.
What do these numbers mean?
The teen birth rate is more than a statistic. It reflects real young people who obviously need access to sexual health education, contraceptive options, and supportive environments that allow them to make informed choices about their futures. Public health experts agree that ensuring young people have access to quality education and healthcare supports overall wellbeing and contributes to decreased teen birth rates. But when access is limited — whether due to systemic barriers, socioeconomic challenges, or gaps in support — the risk for unintended pregnancies rises.
Births to Ages 10–14
We have published fact sheets that review the Oklahoma Teen Birth Rate trends, but we also want to draw attention to a particularly concerning part of the data: births among adolescents ages 10–14. While these births are rare, any increase or persistence in this age group warrants serious attention.
Recent data show a small uptick in births among girls ages 10–14 at both the state and county levels. In Oklahoma County, for example, the number of births to this age group doubled, although it remains a small number overall. Because these births are so infrequent, year-to-year fluctuation is not unusual, and a small change in absolute numbers translates to a bigger percent change.
However, pregnancies at these ages raise serious concerns about sexual abuse and child safety. Births to such young adolescents are uncommon and may signal circumstances that call for careful attention from the systems and adults responsible for protecting children.
Why Continued Monitoring Matters
Tracking trends in teen births, especially in sensitive age groups like 10–14, is essential for understanding not just numbers but the lived realities of young people. Teen birth rates and teen birth counts represent young people who might have entered parenthood earlier than prepared. And when these young people start families earlier than they were expecting, it is often paired with financial struggles, heightened risk of community burden, and additional health concerns.
Continuous data monitoring allows communities to:
- Identify emerging paatterns
- Inform specialized interventions
- Support policies that protect youth
- Strengthen educational and health services
This commitment to ongoing observation and action is part of our responsibility as the backbone organization for the Central Oklahoma Teen Pregnancy Prevention Collaboration. We help ensure that progress continues while vulnerable groups are not overlooked.
Looking Ahead
While Oklahoma has seen notable reductions in teen birth rates over time, the state still faces much work ahead. Effective solutions involve community collaboration, expanded access to medically-accurate sexual health education, and comprehensive support systems that reach young people where they are. With sustained attention to data, we can prioritize tackling the barriers young people face and improve outcomes for youth across our state.