Why are people having fewer children? ‘Financial limitations’ a top barrier

A new report is shedding light on why birth rates are falling around the world and suggests it's not from people choosing to have fewer children.

A new report is shedding light on why birth rates are falling around the world, and suggests it comes down to a “lack of choice, not desire.”

Financial limitations, job insecurity, gender inequality, fears of the future and other barriers are the driving reasons behind the declines, according to new research published Tuesday by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

The report aims to push back on “critically flawed” political and media narratives that blame women for rejecting marriage and parenthood due to a perceived lack of wanting a child.

“Vast numbers of people are unable to create the families they want,” the UNFPA’s executive director Natalia Kanem said in a statement.

“The issue is lack of choice, not desire, with major consequences for individuals and societies. That is the real fertility crisis, and the answer lies in responding to what people say they need: paid family leave, affordable fertility care, and supportive partners.”

The report draws on polling conducted by YouGov in 14 countries, representing over one-third of the global population. Canada was not included in the list of countries polled, which features the United States, Mexico, India, Brazil, South Korea and Germany.

In nearly half of the countries included in the survey, fertility rates have fallen below 2.1 births per woman, which is the threshold needed to maintain population stability without immigration.

The findings show few people worldwide are able to have the number of children they want — even if that number is zero.