Source: UN News: Wednesday, July 15, 2026 00:00 AM
Fertility rates around the world are not declining because the younger generation wants to avoid marriage, family life or the responsibility of becoming parents. The main reason for this is that many young people are under deep pressure due to constraints like economic insecurity, unstable employment and housing. It is the reproductive and sexual health agency of the United Nations, UNFPAis one of the key findings of a major new survey. The survey also challenges assumptions about the so-called “global baby bust,” i.e., a decline in birth rates around the world. The Survey on the Demographic Future (Demographic Futures Survey) is one of the largest and most comprehensive surveys of its type. In this, more than 1 lakh 8 thousand Internet-connected adults aged 18 to 39 years from 73 countries and territories were asked about their views on relationships, children and the future. Tweet URL
It is necessary to remove obstacles. Young people from different regions mentioned almost the same obstacles in the way of partnership and motherhood. Key among these are financial security, stable employment and housing. “Young people are full of hope for their families and their future, and their vision is clear,” said Diane Keita, UNFPA Executive Director. “When financial barriers are removed and young people are supported in their decision-making, they are better able to make the choices that are right for them. By investing in their dreams today, we can build stronger and more prosperous societies for tomorrow.” What Young People Want Survey indicates that public discussion of fertility rates and demographic change has often focused on the wrong question. The question is not whether young people give importance to family life or not. The real question is what conditions they need to create the relationships, families and futures they want. The report also challenges some assumptions about the decline in fertility rates. UN statistics According to the , the average number of births per woman dropped from about five in the 1950s and 1960s to just over two in 2024. It is estimated that by 2100 it will reduce to 1.8. Now there are 55 percent of countries and regions where the fertility rate is less than 2.1 live births per woman. This is considered to be the level at which a country’s population can remain stable over time, provided mortality rates are low and there is no migration. According to a UNFPA survey, public discussion on the issue is often influenced by misconceptions, speculation and bias against women. On the contrary, this survey shows why so many young people are not able to fulfill their aspirations. Partnership is important for parenthood More than two-thirds of respondents said they wanted to get married or live with a partner. Almost 80 percent said that a partnership is an important prerequisite for becoming a parent. Despite this, almost a quarter of people aged 25 to 39 said that they want a partner, but are currently single and not dating anyone. Men said this more than women. According to 57 percent of respondents, the biggest obstacles to marriage or stable cohabitation are financial and housing related. These findings also match the experiences heard during UNFPA’s work with youth. A young woman from India said, “Finding the right partner is important, because I believe that raising a child should be a shared responsibility of both parents with emotional and financial support.” Feminism is not the cause The survey also challenges the claim that feminism is responsible for the decline in fertility rates. According to UNFPA, many women still do not have full freedom to make decisions about their bodies and their reproduction. For example, about one in 10 women cannot make decisions about contraception. A quarter of women are unable to make decisions related to their health care, and a quarter of women are unable to say ‘no’ to sexual relations. The findings show that men and women are very similar in thinking about family-related choices. However, women rated barriers related to having children – such as financial concerns, infertility and long-term health problems – as more important than men. Birth Rate Misconceptions Another misconception is that the rapid decline in teen birth rates is a problem for societies. UNFPA stresses that declining adolescent fertility rates are a sign of a public health success, not a demographic threat. Lower teen pregnancies mean more girls are able to stay in school and avoid the health risks associated with early pregnancy. Many of these girls will later become mothers. The survey data helps in understanding why people are not able to have children as per their wish. Financial security, stable employment, and psychological and emotional preparedness were seen as the three most important conditions for parenthood. “Bringing a child into the world is just a step. The real challenge is raising them,” said a young man from Paraguay. The happiness that comes from children The survey also addressed two linked misconceptions – first, that young adults are too selfish to have children, and second, that people should be motivated to become parents. The findings revealed that the most common reason given by the respondents for wanting to become parents was the happiness they get from having children. Most of the respondents already have children. Additionally, among those without children in the 35 to 39 age group, 79 percent of men and 72 percent of women said they still wanted to become parents. According to UNFPA, “Most people are not refusing to become parents out of selfishness, nor are they waiting for some better benefit from having children.”
