UNFPA warns social, economic barriers, not choice, drives global fertility crisis

By Anjali Sharma

UNITED NATIONS – UNFPA in a new report issued on Tuesday in New York said that the global fertility slump isn’t down to young people turning their backs on parenthood it’s due to social and economic pressures stopping them from having the children they want.

UN Population Fund unveiled its flagship State of World Population report warned that a rising number of people are being denied the freedom to start families due to skyrocketing living costs, persistent gender inequality, and deepening uncertainty about the future.

Titled The real fertility crisis: The pursuit of reproductive agency in a changing world, the report argued that what’s really under threat is people’s ability to choose freely when and whether to have children.

The report draws on a recent UNFPA/YouGov survey covering 14 countries that together represent 37 per cent of the global population.

Economic barriers were the top factor, with 39 per cent of respondents citing financial limitations as the main reason for having fewer children than they would like, the report noted.

Fear for the future from climate change to war and job insecurity followed, cited by 19 per cent and 21 per cent of respondents, it said

The report said that 13% of women and 8% of men pointed to the unequal division of domestic labour as a factor in having fewer children than desired.

The survey revealed that one in three adults have experienced an unintended pregnancy, one in four felt unable to have a child at their preferred time and one in five reported being pressured to have children they did not want.

The report warned against simplistic and coercive responses to falling birth rates, such as baby bonuses or fertility targets, which are often ineffective and risk violating human rights.

UNFPA urged governments to expand choices by removing barriers to parenthood identified by their populations.

It recommended actions include making parenthood more affordable through investments in housing, decent work, paid parental leave and access to comprehensive reproductive health services.

The agency encouraged governments to view immigration as a key strategy to address labour shortages and maintain economic productivity amid declining fertility.

On gender inequality, the report called to address stigma against involved fathers, workplace norms that push mothers out of the workforce, restrictions on reproductive rights, and widening gender gaps in attitudes among younger generations that are contributing to rising singlehood.