Financial worries main reason for not having ideal number of children: UN survey
A UN survey shows that more than half of people without their ideal number of children cite economic instability as the main reason.
The United Nations Population Fund surveyed about 14,000 people in 14 countries from 2023 to 2024 and released the results on Tuesday. The countries include those with low fertility rates such as South Korea and Italy, and others with high rates.
Asked what the ideal number of children is, "two" was the most common reply in all the countries.
People with fewer children than they consider ideal were asked what factors led to this situation.
Fifty-four percent said financial worries, such as job instability or housing conditions.
Twenty-four percent said health reasons such as difficulty conceiving, and 19 percent said fears about the future, such as climate change and wars.
UNFPA Executive Director Natalia Kanem cited lack of choice as the main issue. She said, "That is the real fertility crisis, and the answer lies in responding to what people say they need: paid family leave, affordable fertility care and supportive partners."
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2 days ago
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Financial worries main reason for not having ideal number of children: UN survey
A UN survey shows that more than half of people without their ideal number of children cite economic instability as the main reason. The United Nations Population Fund surveyed about 14,000 people in 14 countries from 2023 to 2024 and released the results on Tuesday. The countries include those with low fertility rates such as South Korea and Italy, and others with high rates. Asked what the ideal number of children is, "two" was the most common reply in all the countries. People with fewer children than they consider ideal were asked what factors led to this situation. Fifty-four percent said financial worries, such as job instability or housing conditions. Twenty-four percent said health reasons such as difficulty conceiving, and 19 percent said fears about the future, such as climate change and wars. UNFPA Executive Director Natalia Kanem cited lack of choice as the main issue. She said, "That is the real fertility crisis, and the answer lies in responding to what people say they need: paid family leave, affordable fertility care and supportive partners."
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