New York: A new report by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has challenged the common belief that declining birth rates are due to younger generations opting out of parenthood. Instead, the agency attributes the global fertility slump to mounting financial pressures, persistent gender inequality, and growing uncertainty about the future — all of which are curtailing people’s ability to start families.
Released on Tuesday, the UNFPA’s flagship State of World Population 2025 report, titled The Real Fertility Crisis: The Pursuit of Reproductive Agency in a Changing World, highlights that the real crisis lies not in people's reluctance to have children, but in their lack of reproductive freedom.
The findings are supported by a wide-reaching UNFPA/YouGov survey conducted across 14 countries that together account for over a third of the world’s population. According to the survey, economic hardship is the most significant barrier to childbearing — cited by 39% of respondents as the key reason for having fewer children than they would prefer.
Job insecurity and anxiety over global issues such as climate change and conflict were also major concerns, mentioned by 21% and 19% of participants respectively. Additionally, gender disparities in unpaid domestic work continue to impact fertility decisions: 13% of women and 8% of men pointed to the unequal distribution of household responsibilities as a deterrent.
The report further reveals that reproductive autonomy is widely compromised. One-third of adults surveyed said they had experienced an unintended pregnancy, one in four reported being unable to have children when they wanted, and one in five said they had felt pressured into having children they did not want.
UNFPA warns against reactive policy measures like fertility targets or cash incentives for childbearing, which it says often fall short and can infringe on individual rights. Instead, the agency calls on governments to dismantle the economic, social, and cultural obstacles that restrict reproductive choices.
Among the key recommendations are expanding access to affordable housing, secure employment, paid parental leave, and comprehensive reproductive healthcare. The report also advocates for rethinking immigration policy as a means to offset labour shortages and economic decline linked to falling birth rates.
To combat gender inequality, UNFPA urges a shift in workplace norms, increased support for involved fatherhood, and stronger protections for reproductive rights. It also warns of a growing attitudinal divide between young men and women, contributing to rising rates of singlehood and further straining fertility trends.
Ultimately, the report argues that supporting individuals’ reproductive agency is essential — not only for demographic stability, but for ensuring human rights and well-being in an increasingly uncertain world.
