
Discover the North Dakota Counties Making the Biggest Strides in Reducing Teen Births
Teen pregnancy comes with challenges that have been widely highlighted on shows like MTV's Teen Mom a reality series that gives viewers a raw look at the struggles of raising a child as a teenager. From balancing school and work to facing financial instability, Teen Mom shows just how hard it can be to handle parenthood at such a young age.
That’s why recent data showing a significant drop in teen births across North Dakota is so encouraging—it reflects not just healthier choices, but better opportunities for young people to focus on their futures.
In the past five years, Benson County has taken the lead with an 18% drop in teen births, followed closely by Sioux County, which also saw an 18% decrease, and McHenry County at 16%. Williams County saw an 11% decline in teen births, while McKenzie County had an 8% drop.
This study, conducted by BadCredit.org, looked at teen birth rates across the U.S. and found that overall, the number of teen births has fallen by 6 births per 1,000 people over five years. Proof that things like better access to contraception and sex education are making a difference.

North Dakota is moving in the right direction. The state as a whole saw a 6% drop, placing it 26th in the nation. This progress shows that the efforts to reduce teen pregnancies and offer better support for young people are working.
Here are the top 10 counties in North Dakota with the biggest declines in teen births:
- Benson: -18%
- Sioux: -18%
- McHenry: -16%
- Mountrail: -15%
- Rolette: -15%
- Walsh: -14%
- McLean: -12%
- Williams: -11%
- Burleigh: -8%
- McKenzie: -8%
These declines aren't just numbers on a page—they represent real progress in giving young people in North Dakota the chance to build better futures for themselves and their families.
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Gallery Credit: Stacker