Falling fertility rates worldwide are not driven by young people rejecting marriage, children or family life, but by economic and housing constraints, according to a new survey by the UN reproductive and sexual health agency, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), released on 7 July 2026, as reported by UN News. The Demographic Futures Survey polled more than 108,000 Internet-connected adults aged 18 to 39 across 73 countries and territories. Respondents shared their views on relationships, children and the future. The findings challenge myths surrounding the so-called “global baby bust”. They also reveal that most young people still aspire to partnership and parenthood.
The report notes that the average number of births per woman has declined from around five in the 1950s and 1960s to just above two in 2024 and is projected to fall to 1.8 by 2100. More than half of all countries and areas, 55 per cent, now have fertility levels below 2.1 live births per woman. That figure is considered the level for a population to replace itself over time with low mortality and no migration. UNFPA argues that public debate on the issue is often rooted in misconceptions, speculation and misogyny. The survey reframes the question toward the conditions needed for young people to build the families they want.
More than two thirds of respondents said they want to marry or live with a partner, and almost 80 per cent said partnership was an important precondition for becoming a parent. Yet, among those aged 25 to 39, about 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 per cent of respondents said the biggest barriers to marriage or stable cohabitation were economic and housing constraints. Financial security, stable employment and psychological and emotional readiness ranked as the top three preconditions for parenthood. Attitudes toward family-related choices were broadly similar among men and women.
“Young people carry an inspiring sense of hope and a clear vision for their families and futures,” said Diene Keita, Executive Director of UNFPA.
She added that removing financial barriers and supporting young people’s agency would allow them to make the choices that are right for them. The survey also challenges claims that feminism is responsible for fertility decline, noting that many women still lack agency over their bodies and reproduction. Roughly one tenth of women are unable to make choices about contraception, one quarter cannot make decisions about their own healthcare, and one quarter are unable to say no to sex. Women consistently rated barriers such as financial concerns, infertility and chronic health issues as more important than men did.
UNFPA stressed that declining adolescent fertility rates are a public health success, not a demographic threat, as fewer adolescent pregnancies mean more girls remain in school and avoid the health risks of early pregnancy. Many will still become mothers later. Among those aged 35 to 39 who do not have children, 79 per cent of men and 72 per cent of women said they still wanted to become parents. The most common reason given for wanting children was the joy and happiness they bring. As UNFPA stated, “most people are not selfishly refusing to become parents, nor are they waiting for babies to promise a better return on investment.”
