More Americans Not Planning to Have Kids, Poll Finds

Nov. 22, 2021 -- More U.S. adults who don’t already person children are saying they don’t program to person immoderate successful the future, according to a caller survey by the Pew Research Center.

Birthrates dropped successful the U.S. during the pandemic, marking a diminution for the sixth twelvemonth successful a row. Fertility rates successful the U.S. were already astatine a grounds debased earlier the pandemic, the halfway reported.

As portion of the poll, non-parents ages 18-49 answered the question, “Thinking astir the future, however apt is it that you volition person children someday?”

About 44% said it’s “not excessively likely” oregon “not astatine each likely” that they volition person children someday, which is up 7 percent points from the 37% who said the aforesaid successful a 2018 Pew survey. What’s more, 74% of adults nether 50 who are parents said they aren’t apt to person much kids.

By contrast, 26% of childless adults said it’s “very likely” they volition person kids, which is down from 32% successful 2018. About 29% said “somewhat likely” some this twelvemonth and successful 2018.

Among parents and non-parents, men and women were arsenic apt to accidental they astir apt won’t person kids successful the future. Adults successful their 40s were much apt to accidental they wouldn’t person kids.

When asked for a reason, 56% of non-parents said they simply don’t privation to person kids. Childless adults nether property 40 were much apt to accidental this than those ages 40-49. There were nary differences betwixt men and women.

Beyond that, 43% cited reasons specified arsenic aesculapian issues, economical oregon fiscal concerns, and not having a partner. A smaller fig of radical cited their property oregon their partner’s age, the “state of the world,” biology concerns, and clime change.

Parents besides cited aesculapian issues and fiscal concerns arsenic the apical reasons wherefore they astir apt wouldn’t person much kids. Mothers were much apt to notation aesculapian issues, and fathers were much apt to mention already having kids. About 26% of parents nether property 40 cited fiscal concerns.

The canvass points to semipermanent trends successful parenthood successful the U.S., according to The Washington Post. In April, the Census Bureau reported that successful the past decade, the U.S. colonisation grew astatine the second-slowest complaint for immoderate 10-year play since the state was founded.

Other caller surveys person pointed to the costs of childcare, wellness care, and acquisition arsenic reasons to postpone oregon not person kids, the paper reported. Global instability, the COVID-19 pandemic, and clime alteration person besides led to changing attitudes astir marriage, children, and beingness priorities.