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This is one of the findings of a major new survey conducted by the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency. UNFPAwhich also challenges the myths surrounding the so-called “global baby bust”.
ThatFutures Demographic Survey is one of the largest and most geographically extensive surveys of its kind. More than 108,000 internet-connected adults aged 18 to 39 from 73 countries and territories were asked their views on relationships, children and the future.
Remove obstacles
Across regions, they show remarkable agreement on the biggest barriers to partnership and parenthood, namely financial security, stable employment, and housing.
“Young people have inspiring hope and a clear vision for their families and their future,” said Diene Keita, Executive Director of UNFPA.
“When we break down financial barriers and support their institutions, they can make choices that are right for them. By investing in their dreams today, we build a more resilient and thriving future.”
What the younger generation wants
The survey shows that public debate around fertility and demographic change often focuses on the wrong questions. Rather than asking whether young people value family life, this research asks what conditions are necessary for them to build the relationships, families and futures they want.
This report debunks several myths surrounding falling fertility rates. UN data shows That the average number of births per woman has fallen from around five in the 1950s and 1960s to just over two in 2024 and is expected to fall to 1.8 by 2100.
More than half of countries and territories, namely 55 percent, now have a fertility rate below 2.1 live births per woman – considered a population level that will replace itself over time with low mortality rates and the absence of migration.
UNFPA surveys show that public debate on this issue is often rooted in misunderstanding, speculation and misogyny. On the contrary, this shows why so many young people cannot realize their dreams.
The partnership then becomes parents
More than two-thirds of respondents said they wanted to marry or live with a partner, and nearly 80 percent said a partnership was an important prerequisite for becoming parents.
However, among those aged 25 to 39 years, around a quarter said they wanted a partner but were single and not dating, with men more likely than women to report this.
In addition, 57 percent of respondents said the biggest obstacles to marriage or a stable cohabitation relationship were economic and housing constraints.
These findings reflect testimonies UNFPA has collected through its youth work. As one young woman from India stated, “finding the right partner is important because I believe that raising children should be a shared responsibility with emotional and financial support from both parents.”
Feminism is not a factor
The survey also challenges claims that feminism is responsible for declining fertility. As UNFPA notes, many women still lack the right to control their bodies and reproduction.
For example, about a tenth of them cannot make choices about contraception, a quarter of them cannot make decisions about their own health care, and a quarter of them cannot refuse sex.
These findings suggest that attitudes toward family-related choices are generally similar between men and women, although women consistently rate barriers to having children – such as financial concerns, infertility, and chronic health problems – as more important than men.
Misconceptions about birth
Another myth states that the “falling” teenage birth rate is a problem for society. UNFPA emphasizes that the decline in adolescent fertility rates is a public health success, not a demographic threat.
Fewer teenage pregnancies means more girls stay in school and avoid the health risks of early pregnancy. Moreover, many still become mothers later.
This survey data provides important insights into what prevents people from having the children they want, with financial security, stable employment, and psychological and emotional readiness being the three main prerequisites for becoming parents.
“Bringing a child into the world is just one step. The real challenge is raising them,” said a young man in Paraguay.
Children bring joy
This survey also addresses two interrelated myths, namely that the younger generation is too selfish to have children and that society is not given enough incentives to become parents.
The findings show that the most common reason respondents gave for wanting to become parents was the joy and happiness that children bring.
In fact, most respondents already have children. Additionally, among those aged 35 to 39 who do not have children,79 percent menAnd72 percent womenstill say they want to be parents.
As the UNFPA states, “most people do not selfishly reject becoming parents, nor do they wait for a baby to promise a better return on their investment.”
