A new Pew Research Center study found that the U.S. fertility rate reached a historic low in 2023, and fewer Americans are having children than ever before. According to the study, the number of childless American adults below the age of 50 who say they are unlikely to ever have children is now 47% (up 10 percentage points from the same demographic in 2018).
Pew researchers surveyed 3,312 American adults ages 18 and older who are not parents, asking them whether or not they would like to have children and why. Interestingly, the answers from the adults aged 18-49 tended to be similar, while they differed from the responses given by the adults aged 50 and older, which also tended to be similar to each other.
There was an exception to this pattern. Respondents in both age groups pointed to infertility, other medical issues, and a partner opposed to having children as reasons for childlessness.
According to the study report, when the respondents were asked why they haven’t had children, “[t]he top reason cited by those ages 50 and older is that it just never happened,” while “[a]dults ages 18 to 49 are most likely to say they just don’t want to have children. These younger adults are also more likely than those in the older group to point to things like wanting to focus on other things, the state of the world or the environment, and financial concerns as major reasons they’re unlikely to have kids.”
Fifty-seven percent (57%) of the childless young adults say they chose not to have children, while 31% of the childless adults aged 50 and older gave the same response. More women than men under the age of 50 said that they just don’t want children (64% versus 50%).
The most common reason for not having children given by adults aged 50 and older was, “It just never happened” (39%), followed by, “Didn’t find the right partner” (33%), “Didn’t want to” (31%), “Wanted to focus on other things” (21%), and other reasons.
Of the older adults surveyed, 38% say that there was a time when they wanted children, however, a shocking 32% said that they never wanted children, and 25% said they are unsure about whether or not they ever wanted children.
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The most common reason for not having children given by adults aged 49 and younger is “Don’t want to” (57%), followed by “Want to focus on other things” (44%), “Concerns about the state of the world” (38%), “Can’t afford to raise a child” (36%), and other reasons.
Both young adults and older adults perceive lifestyle advantages as a product of childlessness; however, fewer older adults perceive benefits, while the majority of young adults perceive benefits. Among these perceived benefits include having time for hobbies and interests, affording things they want, being able to save for the future, being successful in their careers, and having an active social life — all things respondents say are possible because they don’t have children.
The survey results show that childless adults aged 50 and older are concerned about their future welfare. According to the study, the majority of older childless Americans worry about having enough money, having someone to care for them, and being lonely, as they age. The American population is older than ever before, and that will pose significant challenges to society in the near future.
Twenty-six percent (26%) of the childless Americans aged 49 and younger surveyed in the study cite “climate change” as the reason they are not having children. However, as Elon Musk pointed out last year when fertility rates in the U.S. reached a historic low, the waning population poses an imminent threat to humanity.
Having children makes sense – for individuals, families, and the world at large. As Lila Rose and Dr. Pia de Solenni discussed in a recent podcast episode, all generations — particularly in the younger generations — must be shown that having children is worth it for them personally as well as for society in general.
