Increases in Labor Induction in the United States: 2016 to 2024

NCHS Data Brief No. 554, March 2026

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Joyce A. Martin, M.P.H., and Michelle J.K. Osterman, M.H.S.

Introduction

Induction of labor rates have been on the rise in the United States for several decades. Birth certificate data show that labor was induced in fewer than 1 in 10 births in 1989 compared with more than 1 in 4 births in 2016 (1−3). Inducing labor by medical or surgical means instead of waiting for the spontaneous onset of labor can help protect maternal and perinatal health by reducing the complications of continuing the pregnancy, but it may also carry risks (4−7). This report describes trends in labor induction among singleton births from 2016 to 2024 and changes in labor induction between 2016 and 2024 by age, race and Hispanic origin of the mother, and gestational age of the newborn.

Trends

• The percentage of singleton births in which labor was induced increased 39% in the United States from 2016 to 2024, from about one-quarter (24.9%) to more than one-third of all births (34.5%) (Figure 1, Table 1).
• The pace of increase was greater from 2017 to 2020 (an average increase of 6% per year) compared with 2020 to 2024 (an average increase of 2% per year).

Maternal age

• Labor induction rates increased 35%−40% among all four maternal age groups from 2016 to 2024 (Figure 2, Table 2).
• Rates increased 35% for mothers younger than age 20 from 2016 (28.4%) to 2024 (38.3%) and by 39% for mothers ages 20−29 during the same period (from 26.0% to 36.1%).
• The largest increase (40%) was observed for mothers ages 30−39 from 2016 (23.3%) to 2024 (32.7%). The rate for mothers age 40 and older increased 36% during the same period (from 25.2% to 34.3%).
• Induction rates were highest for the youngest mothers (under age 20) and lowest for mothers ages 30−39 in both 2016 and 2024.

Race and Hispanic origin

• Labor induction rates increased 32%−67% across all six race and Hispanic-origin groups from 2016 to 2024 (Figure 3, Table 3).
• The largest increase among the six race and Hispanic-origin groups was for Asian non-Hispanic mothers from 2016 to 2024 (up 67%, from 19.3% to 32.3%), followed by Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander non-Hispanic mothers (up 52%, from 18.3% to 27.8%) and Hispanic mothers (up 49%, from 20.5% to 30.6%).
• For American Indian and Alaskan Native non-Hispanic mothers, the induction rate increased 41% (from 25.9% to 36.5%); for Black non-Hispanic mothers, the rate increased 43% (23.6% to 33.7%); and for White non-Hispanic (subsequently, White) mothers, the rate increased 32% (28.1% to 37.2%).
• Labor induction rates were highest for White mothers in both 2016 and 2024.

Gestational age

• Labor induction rates increased across all gestational age categories from 2016 to 2024. The largest increase was for early-term births (up 64%, from 19.9% to 32.6%) (Figure 4, Table 4).
• The induction rate increased 42% for late preterm births (from 17.5% in 2016 to 24.9% in 2024) and 40% for full-term births (26.0% to 36.4%).
• Rates increased 14% for early preterm births (from 8.6% in 2016 to 9.8% in 2024) and by 9% for late and post-term births (45.5% to 49.5%).
• Labor induction rates were lowest at the shortest gestational ages (early preterm births), and highest at the longest gestational ages (late and post-term births) in both 2016 and 2024.

State of residence

• Labor induction rates increased in 49 states and the District of Columbia between 2016 and 2024. The rate was essentially unchanged in New Mexico (Figure 5, Table 5).
• Between 2016 and 2024, increases of 50% or more were observed in 9 states and the District of Columbia, and increases of 25%−49% were observed in 30 states.
• In 2024, labor induction rates ranged from 18.0% in Utah to 45.2% in West Virginia.

Summary

Induction of labor rates continue to increase in the United States. Labor was induced for more than one-third of all singleton births in 2024 (34.5%), an increase of 39% from 2016. The largest increases were observed during the earlier part of the study period, from 2017 to 2020.

Labor induction has quadrupled since 1989 (9.0%) (1).

Increases in labor induction rates occurred across all maternal age groups, across all race and Hispanic-origin groups, and in 49 states and the District of Columbia from 2016 to 2024. Increases were also seen across all gestational age categories. Labor induction before 39 completed weeks of gestation is not recommended unless there is a medical reason to deliver the baby early (8). At 39 weeks and later, counseling on the potential benefits and risks of labor induction compared with expectant management of labor is recommended (5).

In both 2016 and 2024, induction rates were highest among mothers younger than age 20, White mothers, and late and post-term births. In 2024, state rates ranged from 18.0% in Utah to 45.2% in West Virginia.

Definitions

Gestational age: Based on the obstetric estimate of gestation. Early preterm is less than 34 completed weeks, late preterm is 34−36 weeks, early term is 37−38 weeks, full term is 39−40 weeks, and late and post term is 41 weeks and later.

Induction of labor: Initiation of uterine contractions by medical or surgical means for the purpose of delivery before the spontaneous onset of labor (before labor has begun).

Data source and methods

This report is based on birth certificate data from the National Vital Statistics System (NVSS). The vital statistics natality file includes information for all births occurring in the United States in a given year and includes a wide range of information on demographic and health characteristics of mothers and infants (https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data_access/vitalstatsonline.htm). Provisional and final NVSS data may also be accessed through the CDC WONDER platform at: https://wonder.cdc.gov/natality.html.

This report includes births from singleton deliveries only. Singleton births comprised 97% of all births in 2024. Births from singleton deliveries are more likely to involve induced labor than births from multiple-gestation deliveries. As a result, trends in the rate of multiple births can impact overall labor induction rates. Trends in labor induction rates for 2016−2024 were evaluated using the Joinpoint Regression Program (9). Differences between rates described in this report are statistically significant at the 0.05 level unless otherwise noted and are based on a pairwise comparison using a two-tailed z test. The linearity of induction was tested using the Cochran-Armitage test for trends.

About the authors

Joyce A. Martin and Michelle J.K. Osterman are with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics, Division of Vital Statistics.

References

1. Curtin SC, Park MM. Trends in the attendant, place, and timing of births, and in the use of obstetric interventions: United States, 1989−97. Natl Vital Stat Rep. 1999 Dec;47(27):1−13. PMID: 10598437.
2. Martin JA, Hamilton BE, Sutton PD, Ventura SJ, Mathews TJ, Kirmeyer S, Osterman MJ. Births: Final data for 2007. Natl Vital Stat Rep. 2010 Aug;58(24):1−85. PMID: 21254725.
3. Martin JA, Hamilton BE, Osterman MJK, Driscoll AK, Drake P. Births: Final data for 2016. Natl Vital Stat Rep. 2018 Jan;67(1):1−55. PMID: 29775434.
4. ACOG Practice Bulletin No. 107: Induction of labor. Obstet Gynecol. 2009 Aug;114(2 Pt 1):386−97. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.1097/AOG.0b013e3181b48ef5. PMID: 19623003.
5. Management of full-term nulliparous individuals without a medical indication for delivery: ACOG Clinical Practice Update. Obstet Gynecol. 2025 Jan 1;145(1):e45−50. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.1097/AOG.0000000000005783. PMID: 39513607.
6. Grobman WA, Rice MM, Reddy UM, Tita ATN, Silver RM, Mallett G, et al. Labor induction versus expectant management in low-risk nulliparous women. N Engl J Med. 2018 Aug;379(6):513−23. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa1800566. PMID: 30089070. PMCID: PMC6186292.
7. Gilroy LC, Al-Kouatly HB, Minkoff HL, McLaren RA Jr. Changes in obstetrical practices and pregnancy outcomes following the ARRIVE trial. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2022 May;226(5):716.e1−12. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ajog.2022.02.003. Epub 2022 Feb 6. PMID: 35139334.
8. ACOG Committee Opinion No. 765: Avoidance of nonmedically indicated early-term deliveries and associated neonatal morbidities. Obstet Gynecol. 2019 Feb;133(2):e156−63. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.1097/AOG.0000000000003076. PMID: 30681546.
9. National Cancer Institute. Joinpoint Regression Program (Version 4.8.0.1) [computer software]. 2020.

Suggested citation

Martin JA, Osterman MJK. Induction of labor increases in the United States: 2016 to 2024. NCHS Data Brief. 2026 Mar;(554):1−12. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.15620/cdc/174652.

Copyright information

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.

National Center for Health Statistics

Carolyn M. Greene, M.D., Acting Director
Amy M. Branum, Ph.D., Associate Director for Science

Division of Vital Statistics
Paul D. Sutton, Ph.D., Director
Andrés A. Berruti, Ph.D., M.A., Associate Director for Science