S.D. birth rate rising again after recession slump

When the economy went south in 2008, so did the birth rate.

In South Dakota, the higher unemployment rate and worse economic prospects contributed to almost 500 fewer babies being born in 2010 compared to 2007, which had been a peak.

“The economics kind of slowed things down,” said Lon Kightlinger, the state epidemiologist, who helps track birth and death data for the state Department of Health. “Now we’re ticking up again.”

The decline of 3.7 percent hasn’t been fully erased. In 2012, the state recorded almost 12,100 live births, close to the 2007 peak, but the number fell again last year to 11,894 — still almost 100 more than 2007.

Mike McCurry, the state demographer, said South Dakotans of all types tend to have more children than even residents of neighboring states.

But he said the state’s increase is dominated by two small groups with much higher fertility rates: Native Americans and Hutterites.

In 2012, for example, there were about 12.7 white children born per 1,000 people in the population. But there were 26.1 Native American children born per 1,000 people, according to Department of Health statistics.

Native Americans make up 9 percent of the state’s population, so a higher birthrate in this population can have a big effect on the state’s overall fertility.

But McCurry said it’s more surprising how much of an effect the state’s 6,500 Hutterites have had.

“In the 1940s and 1930s, (Hutterites) were listed as the most fertile people that were historically recorded anywhere, averaging 10 to 12 births per woman,” said McCurry, whose research has focused on the Hutterite population. “Now we’re down to probably five, 5.5 or six (births per woman) in Hutterite colonies.”

South Dakota as a whole averages around 2.3 births per woman.

Hutterites are small in number but growing rapidly and concentrated in rural areas. McCurry said they make up about 10 percent of the state’s farm population.

“If we go up into McPherson County ... maybe 10, 12 percent of the population is Hutterite, but a full third of the kids enrolled in school in McPherson are Hutterite,” McCurry said.

This higher birth rate could help South Dakota counteract its aging population if it can keep those young people from leaving the state, he said.

By the numbers

11,894:

Births in South Dakota last year.

12.7:

White children born per 1,000 population in South Dakota in 2012.

26.1:

Native American children born per 1,000 population in the state in 2012.

2.3:

Births per woman in South Dakota.

5 to 6:

Births per woman in Hutterite colonies in South Dakota.

— South Dakota

Department of Health