The Bastardization of America

A harshly-worded title, yes, but sadly, statistics indicate that each year in the United States there are more children born out of wedlock than the previous year. In a report released yesterday by the National Center for Health Statistics, almost 1.5 million American babies were born in 2004 to unmarried women which is twice the number of illegitimate babies born in 1980 (see graph).

There has also been a doubling in the percentage of illegitimate births to total births (approximately 4.1 million) with approximately 18% in 1980 to approximately 36% in 2004. From another perspective, in 1980 fewer than one in every five babies were out-of wedlock. Last year, more than one in three were illegitimate.


Births to Unmarried Women: United States, 1980 - 2004
Broken down demographically, the percentages of illegitimate births varies dramatically. Rounded to the nearest whole percentage point, by group:

- All races and origins - 36%
- Non-Hispanic white - 25%
- Non-Hispanic black - 69%
- American Indian - 62%
- Asian or Pacific Islander - 16%
- Hispanic (all races/origins) - 46%

All percentages listed reflect increases. Like clockwork, the percentage of births to unmarried women increases. It's 36% now. Trending forward, the illegitimate birth rate in the U.S. will exceed 50% by 2020. From a different perspective, when last year's newborns reach adulthood, most of the babies born in America will be bastards.