The global fertility rate has fallen to less than half its level in the 1960s, and for many, it’s not because they don’t want children — it’s because they can’t afford them or face systemic obstacles to starting families, according to a new United Nations report.
The UN Population Fund (UNFPA) this week released findings from a multi-country survey showing that nearly 20% of adults of reproductive age in 14 countries say they are unable to have the number of children they desire. The reasons cited go far beyond medical infertility and instead point to mounting financial hardship, restricted access to reproductive care, and deepening concerns about global stability.
“There are many people who want more children, but only if conditions are right,” said Shalini Randeria, president of Central European University and senior external advisor for the report. “Governments have a responsibility to create the support systems — like secure employment, accessible healthcare, and child care — that enable people to make those choices freely.”
The UNFPA-YouGov survey spanned Asia, Europe, North and South America, and Africa, collectively covering over one-third of the global population. It found a consistent gap between the number of children people would like to have and how many they actually have.
Economic Pressures Leading the Way
The most commonly cited barrier was financial insecurity. Of respondents, 39% blamed general financial limitations, while 21% pointed to unemployment or job insecurity. A further 19% said housing constraints were a major factor, and 12% mentioned the lack of affordable, quality childcare.
The rising cost of living has placed significant strain on family planning. Global inflation peaked in 2022 at the highest levels since the 1990s and remains elevated. In the United States, housing costs have outpaced incomes by more than 65% since 2000. Meanwhile, child care in the U.S. now costs more annually than college tuition for many families.
The UN estimates that up to 3 billion people globally lack access to adequate housing, worsening pressures on young families and prospective parents.
Barriers to Reproductive Care and Rights
Access to reproductive assistance and legal barriers are further complicating family-building. Surrogacy remains banned in several European nations, including France, Germany, and Italy. Many countries also restrict fertility treatments for same-sex couples, and abortion laws are tightening worldwide.
The UNFPA report warns that some governments, alarmed by plunging birth rates, are enacting top-down fertility policies to push people into having more children — measures that risk violating reproductive autonomy.
Instead, the report identifies the core crisis as one of reproductive agency: the inability of individuals to freely decide whether, when, and how to have children. “It’s not a fertility crisis,” the report concludes. “It’s a crisis of choice.”
