Mississippi has the highest teen pregnancy rate once again, according to state data released on Tuesday. For 2010, Mississippi reported 55 births for every 1,000 teen girls aged 15-19. That number is 60 percent higher than the average birth rate for the whole country.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that although Mississippi's teen birth rate has dropped 21 percent since 2007, the state still has the highest rate in the nation.
The entire U.S. also saw a decrease in teen pregnancies for 2010. The nation's rate of 34 births for every 1,000 girls aged 15-19 is the lowest it has been since record-keeping began in 1940.
The CDC attributes this nation-wide decrease to higher reported uses of contraception by teens.
New Mexico reported the second highest rate with 52.9 births per 1,000 teens. New Hampshire had the lowest rate with 15.7.
To see the entire ranked list of states, click here.
