UN Reveals Why Millions Are Delaying Parenthood
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A major global survey has uncovered the real reasons many young adults are putting off having children, challenging long-standing beliefs about family life and modern relationships.
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A new global survey by the UN Population Fund is pushing back against several commonly held assumptions about declining fertility, concluding that economic constraints, rather than a rejection of family life, feminism or selfishness, are what's actually limiting many young people's ability to have children.
The findings emerge from the Demographic Futures Survey, which collected 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 around falling fertility rates has often centred on the wrong questions, focusing on whether young people still value family life rather than examining what conditions would actually enable them to form relationships and raise children.
UN data cited in the report shows that the average number of births per woman has dropped from around five in the 1950s and 1960s to just above two in 2024, with projections pointing to a further decline to 1.8 by 2100.
More than 55 per cent of countries and territories currently record 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 who do not, 79 per cent of men and 72 per cent of women said they still hoped to become parents.
The report also disputes claims that feminism is to blame for declining fertility, pointing out that many women still lack autonomy over their reproductive lives.
UNFPA notes that roughly one in ten women are unable to make decisions about contraception, about a quarter cannot make decisions regarding their own healthcare, and about a quarter are unable to refuse sex.
The survey found that men and women largely shared similar views on family-related decisions, though women consistently rated barriers such as financial concerns, infertility and chronic health conditions as more significant obstacles than men did.
UNFPA further rejected the notion that young adults are simply unwilling to become parents, stating that most people are not selfishly refusing parenthood, nor are they holding out for babies to offer a better return on investment.
Instead, respondents most commonly pointed to the joy and happiness children bring as their main 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.
The report added that when financial barriers are removed and young people's agency is supported, they are able to make the choices that are right for them, and that investing in their dreams today lays the groundwork for a more resilient and thriving tomorrow.
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