UN warns global fertility rates in ‘unprecedented decline’

Among the reasons are the prohibitive cost of parenthood and the lack of a suitable partner.

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) surveyed 14,000 people in 14 countries about their fertility intentions. One in five said they haven’t had or expect they won’t have their desired number of children.

The countries surveyed – South Korea, Thailand, Italy, Hungary, Germany, Sweden, Brazil, Mexico, US, India, Indonesia, Morocco, South Africa, and Nigeria – account for one-third of the global population. They are a mix of low-, middle- and high-income countries and those with low and high fertility. UNFPA surveyed young adults and those past their reproductive years.

“The world has begun an unprecedented decline in fertility rates,” said Dr Natalia Kanem, head of UNFPA.

“Most people surveyed want two or more children. Fertility rates are falling in large part because many feel unable to create the families they want. And that is the real crisis,” she said.

In all the countries surveyed, 39 per cent of people said financial limitations prevented them from having a child. Only 12 per cent of people cited infertility – or difficulty conceiving – as a reason for not having the number of children they wanted.

The UNFPA found an even bigger barrier to children than finances was a lack of time.

“This is the first time that [the UN] have really gone all-out on low fertility issues,” said Professor Stuart Gietel-Basten, demographer at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.

Until recently, the agency focused heavily on women who have more children than they wanted and the “unmet need” for contraception. But Professor Gietel-Basten warned against countries enacting any kind of panic policies.

“We are seeing low fertility, population ageing, population stagnation used as an excuse to implement nationalist, anti-migrant policies . . . ,” he said.

The survey is a pilot for research in 50 countries later this year.

FULL STORY

World fertility rates in unprecedented decline UN says (By Stephanie Hegarty/BBC)