Guardian

Real reasons people do not have the number of children they want revealed in new report

Metaculus

Global Total Fertility Rate in 2050

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The State of World Population 2025 report by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has revealed that socioeconomic barriers are the primary force driving the global fertility crisis rather than choice.

Sky News

The State of World Population 2025 report by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has revealed that socioeconomic barriers are the primary force driving the global fertility crisis rather than choice.

The survey highlighted economic factors as the most common limiting reason, with 39% of the 10,000 who reported having or wanting children stating that financial barriers were the most significant, followed by employment and job security at 21% and housing at 19%.&nbsp;

UN News

The survey highlighted economic factors as the most common limiting reason, with 39% of the 10,000 who reported having or wanting children stating that financial barriers were the most significant, followed by employment and job security at 21% and housing at 19%. 

As a result, the UNFPA dismissed analyses that cite falling marriage rates or rejection of parenthood as the cause of falling fertility, stating that “[f]ull reproductive agency remains elusive,” while warning that “coercive” policies or financial incentives to raise fertility fail in the long term and can backfire.

As a result, the UNFPA dismissed analyses that cite falling marriage rates or rejection of parenthood as the cause of falling fertility, stating that “[f]ull reproductive agency remains elusive,” while warning that “coercive” policies or financial incentives to raise fertility fail in the long term and can backfire.

The UNFPA’s proposed solution is to empower people to “decide freely and responsibly on the number, spacing and timing of their children” through quality healthcare, financial security, promoting equal partnerships, and creating “a more equitable, sustainable and caring world.”

UNFPA

The UNFPA’s proposed solution is to empower people to “decide freely and responsibly on the number, spacing and timing of their children” through quality healthcare, financial security, promoting equal partnerships, and creating “a more equitable, sustainable and caring world.”

BBC News

Working with the polling agency YouGov, the UNFPA surveyed 14,000 adults across 14 different countries, showing that the ideal number of children wanted was two. 18% of those surveyed, however, believed they would never have the number of children they desire.

Working with the polling agency YouGov, the UNFPA surveyed 14,000 adults across 14 different countries, showing that the ideal number of children wanted was two. 18% of those surveyed, however, believed they would never have the number of children they desire.

Other factors included health issues, cited by one in four, fears for the future (such as war, political instability, or climate change), reported by 19%, partnership issues (14%), and the unequal division of household labor, reported by 11%.

Other factors included health issues, cited by one in four, fears for the future (such as war, political instability, or climate change), reported by 19%, partnership issues (14%), and the unequal division of household labor, reported by 11%.

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The survey highlighted economic factors as the most limiting reason, with 39% of the 10,000 who reported having or wanting children stating that financial barriers were the most significant, followed by employment and job security at 21% and housing at 19%.&nbsp;

UN News #

The survey highlighted economic factors as the most limiting reason, with 39% of the 10,000 who reported having or wanting children stating that financial barriers were the most significant, followed by employment and job security at 21% and housing at 19%. 

Other factors included health issues, cited by one in four, fears for the future, such as war, political instability, or climate change, reported by 19%, partnership issues (14%), and the unequal division of household labor, reported by 11%.

Other factors included health issues, cited by one in four, fears for the future, such as war, political instability, or climate change, reported by 19%, partnership issues (14%), and the unequal division of household labor, reported by 11%.

As a result, the UNFPA dismissed analysis that falling marriage rates or rejection of parenthood are the cause of falling fertility, stating that “[f]ull reproductive agency remains elusive,” while warning that “coercive” policies or financial incentives to raise fertility fail in the long term and can backfire.

Guardian #

As a result, the UNFPA dismissed analysis that falling marriage rates or rejection of parenthood are the cause of falling fertility, stating that “[f]ull reproductive agency remains elusive,” while warning that “coercive” policies or financial incentives to raise fertility fail in the long term and can backfire.

The UNFPA’s solution is to empower people to “decide freely and responsibly on the number, spacing[,] and timing of their children” through quality healthcare, financial security, promoting equal partnerships, and creating “a more equitable, sustainable and[,] caring world.”

The UNFPA’s solution is to empower people to “decide freely and responsibly on the number, spacing[,] and timing of their children” through quality healthcare, financial security, promoting equal partnerships, and creating “a more equitable, sustainable and[,] caring world.”

For decades, governments from across the world have tried to engineer fertility rates through policies ranging from coercion to financial incentives. These measures, however, have consistently failed to impact long-term fertility and have, at times, had unintended consequences. To address the global fertility crisis, countries must empower their citizens, many of whom desire children, by removing the social and economic barriers that constrain their choices.

For decades, governments from across the world have tried to engineer fertility rates through policies ranging from coercion to financial incentives. These measures, however, have consistently failed to impact long-term fertility and have, at times, had unintended consequences. To address the global fertility crisis, countries must empower their citizens, many of whom desire children, by removing the social and economic barriers that constrain their choices.

The real fertility crisis The pursuit of reproductive agency in a changing world

The primary driver of falling fertility rates is the decline of marriage as a social convention. In America alone, research suggests that 75% of the decline in fertility since 2007 is due to falling marriage rates, as those who did marry had children just like their parents and grandparents. Consequently, the solution is a pro-marriage agenda that provides economic support and opportunities for young people who choose to tie the knot.

The primary driver of falling fertility rates is the decline of marriage as a social convention. In America alone, research suggests that 75% of the decline in fertility since 2007 is due to falling marriage rates, as those who did marry had children just like their parents and grandparents. Consequently, the solution is a pro-marriage agenda that provides economic support and opportunities for young people who choose to tie the knot.

Institute for Family Studies

Yes, Marriage Still Matters For Fertility: New Evidence

Abortion

Costfoto/NurPhoto via Getty Images

UN Report: Socioeconomic Barriers Block Desired Family Size

Costfoto/NurPhoto via Getty Images

UN Report: Socioeconomic Barriers Block Desired Family Size

World

Health

While global economic trends are certainly having a negative effect on fertility rates worldwide, as is a shift away from the convention of marriage, the fact can't be ignored that, in the Western world, women have been sold a lie of economic parity which now manifests in a lower fertility rate. For a generation once told they could 'have it all,' competing priorities of a career and parenthood, all amid a failing childcare and housing infrastructure, mean many are left with no choice but to risk sacrificing independence and relationship parity for a better biological chance of motherhood.

While global economic trends are certainly having a negative effect on fertility rates worldwide, as is a shift away from the convention of marriage, the fact can't be ignored that, in the Western world, women have been sold a lie of economic parity which now manifests in a lower fertility rate. For a generation once told they could 'have it all,' competing priorities of a career and parenthood, all amid a failing childcare and housing infrastructure, mean many are left with no choice but to risk sacrificing independence and relationship parity for a better biological chance of motherhood.

Fertility crisis: 'I'm 31 and single with endometriosis - am I leaving it too late?'

Refinery29

We Arent Leaving It Too Late To Have Children, Were Being Screwed Over

There's a 50% chance that the global fertility rate will be at least 1.8 children per woman in 2050, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

There's a 50% chance that the global fertility rate will be at least 1.8 children per woman in 2050, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

UN Report: Socioeconomic Barriers Block Desired Family Size

UN Report: Socioeconomic Barriers Block Desired Family Size

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UN Report: Socioeconomic Barriers Block Desired Family Size

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