A new global survey by the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) is challenging several widely held assumptions about declining fertility, concluding that economic constraints—not a rejection of family life, feminism or selfishness—are limiting many young people’s ability to have children.
The findings come from the Demographic Futures Survey, which gathered responses from more than 108,000 internet-connected adults aged 18 to 39 across 73 countries and territories.
According to the Tuesday report obtained by our correspondent on the UN website, public debate about falling fertility has often focused on the wrong questions, asking “whether young people still value family life rather than examining what conditions are needed for them to form relationships and raise children.”
UN data cited in the report shows the average number of births per woman has declined from around five in the 1950s and 1960s to just above two in 2024 and is projected to fall to 1.8 by 2100.
More than 55 per cent of countries and territories now have fertility levels below the replacement rate of 2.1 births per woman.
Despite these trends, the survey found that the desire for parenthood remains strong.
Most respondents already have children, while among adults aged 35 to 39 without children, 79 per cent of men and 72 per cent of women said they still wanted to become parents.
The report also challenges claims that feminism is responsible for declining fertility, noting that many women continue to lack autonomy over their reproductive lives.
According to UNFPA, roughly one in ten women are unable to make decisions about contraception, about one-quarter cannot make decisions regarding their own healthcare, and about one-quarter are unable to refuse sex.
The survey found that men and women held broadly similar views on family-related decisions, although women consistently rated barriers such as financial concerns, infertility and chronic health conditions as more significant than men did.
UNFPA also rejected suggestions that young adults are unwilling to become parents.
As the report states, “most people are not selfishly refusing to become parents, nor are they waiting for babies to promise a better return on investment.”
Instead, respondents most commonly cited the joy and happiness children bring as their reason for wanting to become parents.
“Young people carry an inspiring sense of hope and a clear vision for their families and futures,” said Diene Keita, Executive Director of UNFPA.
“When we break down financial barriers and support their agency, they can make the choices that are right for them. By investing in their dreams today, we are building a more resilient and thriving tomorrow,” the report stated.
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