Teen births hit a new low in 2015 nationally, statewide and in Escambia County. The birth rates dropped by nearly half.
New federal data shows nationally there were 22.3 births for every 1,000 girls ages 15 to 19–a 47 percent decline from the teen birthrate in 2009.
For the state of Florida, the teen birth rate dropped 45 percent – from 37.2 for every 1,000 girls ages 15 to 19 in 2009 to 20.3 last year.
While Escambia County has a higher teen birth rate than the national and state averages, its rate also dropped 45 percent – from 51.4 for every 1,000 girls ages 15 to 19 in 2009 to 28.5 in 2015. In 1996, the teen birth rate for Escambia County was 61.3.