Latest news with #Kanem
Time of India
2 days ago
- General
- Time of India
UN warns of 'unprecedented decline' in world fertility rates; Reveals the key factor responsible for the trend
You're in for some grim news. The United Nations has issued a stark warning regarding the fertility rate worldwide. According to a new report by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the UN agency for reproductive rights, global fertility rates are experiencing an "unprecedented decline. " The agency has taken its strongest line yet on fertility decline, warning that hundreds of millions of people are not able to have the number of children they want, citing the prohibitive cost of parenthood and the lack of a suitable partner as some of the reasons, signaling a demographic shift that could reshape societies, economies, and policies worldwide. What happened? 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, the US, India, Indonesia, Morocco, South Africa, and Nigeria - account for a 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. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với mức chênh lệch giá thấp nhất IC Markets Đăng ký Undo As per Dr Natalia Kanem, head of UNFPA, who told the BBC, "The world has begun an unprecedented decline in fertility rates." What are the findings? According to Dr Kanem, "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." The survey, which is a pilot for research in 50 countries later this year, is limited in its scope. When it comes to age groups within countries, for example, the sample sizes are too small to draw solid conclusions. However, some findings are clear. In all countries, 39% of people said financial limitations prevented them from having a child. The highest response was in Korea (58%), the lowest in Sweden (19%). In total, only 12% of people cited infertility - or difficulty conceiving - as a reason for not having the number of children they wanted to. But that figure was higher in countries including Thailand (19%), the US (16%), South Africa (15%), Nigeria (14%), and India (13%). Experts' take: As per demographer Anna Rotkirch, who has researched fertility intentions in Europe and advises the Finnish government on population policy, quoted by the BBC, "Calling this a crisis, saying it's real. That's a shift I think." She added, "Overall, there's more undershooting than overshooting of fertility ideals." Anna has studied this at length in Europe and is interested to see it reflected at a global level. She was also surprised by how many respondents over 50 (31%) said they had fewer children than they wanted. As per Prof Stuart Gietel-Basten, demographer at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, quoted by the BBC, "This is the first time that [the UN] have really gone all-out on low fertility issues.' Until recently, the agency focused heavily on women who have more children than they wanted and the "unmet need" for contraception. Still, the UNFPA is urging caution in response to low fertility. As per Dr Kanem, "Right now, what we're seeing is a lot of rhetoric of catastrophe, either overpopulation or shrinking population, which leads to this kind of exaggerated response, and sometimes a manipulative response. In terms of trying to get women to have more children, or fewer." Dr Kanem also pointed out that 40 years ago, China, Korea, Japan, Thailand, and Turkey were all worried their populations were too high. By 2015, they wanted to boost fertility. According to Prof Gietel-Basten, "We want to try as far as possible to avoid those countries enacting any kind of panicky policies." He added, "We are seeing low fertility, population ageing, population stagnation used as an excuse to implement nationalist, anti-migrant policies and gender conservative policies." Factors responsible for the decline in fertility rate: While the decline in fertility rates is a complex issue influenced by a multitude of factors, including societal changes, economic shifts, and advancements in reproductive technologies, key drivers include increased female education, changing societal attitudes towards family size, access to contraception, and rising concerns about infertility due to lifestyle factors and environmental pollution. Here's a more detailed look at the key factors: Socio-economic and cultural factors: Increased female education and workforce participation: Education and employment opportunities for women often lead to later marriages and smaller family sizes, as women prioritize careers and personal growth. Changing societal norms and attitudes: Traditional values emphasizing large families are gradually giving way to smaller, more modern family structures. Economic development and urbanization: As countries develop, the costs of raising children can increase, leading to a desire for fewer children. Greater emphasis on individual aspirations and career goals: Women and couples are increasingly prioritizing their personal and professional goals, leading to delayed childbearing. Access to family planning and reproductive health services: The availability of contraception and family planning resources empowers individuals to make informed choices about family size. Shift in childbearing preferences: Individuals are increasingly choosing to have fewer children or delay parenthood, reflecting changing values and priorities. Health and infertility: Rising cases of infertility: Lifestyle factors (obesity, stress, smoking), environmental pollution, and increased awareness of reproductive health issues contribute to rising infertility rates. Age-related decline in fertility: Both men and women experience a decline in fertility with age, with women's fertility declining more rapidly after the mid-30s. Medical conditions affecting fertility: Various medical conditions, such as thyroid disease, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and endometriosis, can impact fertility. Technological and policy factors: Advancements in reproductive technologies: While these technologies offer hope for infertile couples, they can also contribute to a decline in natural conception rates. Family planning policies and programs: Government initiatives promoting family planning and reproductive health can influence fertility rates. Environmental factors: Pollution and environmental toxins: Environmental pollutants can negatively impact reproductive health and contribute to infertility. Climate change: The effects of climate change can also impact reproductive health and fertility. What can be done to reverse the decline? Reversing the global decline in fertility rates requires a multifaceted approach, focusing on economic stability, social support, and policy changes. While some factors like education and access to healthcare are associated with lower fertility, reversing the trend necessitates creating environments that are more conducive to having children. Here's a breakdown of strategies: Economic stability and opportunity: Promote stable employment and income growth: Economic security is a major factor in family planning decisions. Policies that foster job creation, reduce unemployment, and increase wages can make having children more feasible. Reduce the cost of raising children: Significant expenses associated with childcare, education, and housing can deter families from having more children. Subsidized childcare, affordable housing programs, and tax breaks for larger families can help alleviate these burdens. Social support and family-friendly policies: Extended parental leave: Fully paid and extended parental leave, shared between both parents, can provide families with the time they need to adjust to new parenthood without financial hardship. Access to childcare: Affordable, high-quality childcare options are crucial for working parents who wish to have children. Public and subsidized childcare programs can ensure that families can access the care they need. Supportive community and family networks: Strong social support systems, including extended family and friends, can help parents navigate the challenges of raising children. Programs that connect families with resources and support can create a more welcoming environment for new parents. Addressing societal norms and values: Promote a positive view of parenting: Public campaigns and educational initiatives can challenge negative stereotypes about having children and promote a more positive view of parenthood. Support work-life balance: Policies that encourage employers to offer flexible work arrangements and support work-life balance can help families integrate work and family responsibilities more effectively. Address gender inequality: Gender inequality in the home and workplace can hinder women's ability to pursue their family goals. Policies that promote gender equality in education, employment, and childcare can create more equitable opportunities for all families. Healthcare and reproductive health: Expand access to fertility treatments: Improved access to safe and affordable fertility treatments can help couples who are struggling to conceive. Public health programs can ensure that individuals have access to the care they need to achieve their family goals. Protect reproductive health: Promoting reproductive health education and access to contraception can help individuals make informed decisions about family planning. International cooperation and immigration: Address global inequality: Addressing global inequality and poverty can have a positive impact on fertility rates in developing countries. Increase immigration: Some argue that increasing immigration can help to offset population decline and maintain a stable workforce. Important considerations: The most effective policies will vary depending on the specific context and needs of each country and community. 'One-size-fits-all' solution doesn't work in that field. Moreover, reversing fertility declines is a long-term process that requires sustained effort and commitment. Ultimately, policies should aim to support the well-being of families and individuals, creating environments where they feel empowered to pursue their family goals. One step to a healthier you—join Times Health+ Yoga and feel the change
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Real reasons people do not have the number of children they want revealed in new report
Millions of people are prevented from having the number of children they want by a toxic mix of economic barriers and sexism, a new UN report has warned. Factors such as the high cost of parenthood, job insecurity, expensive housing, concerns over the state of the world and the lack of a suitable partner stop people having the families they want, rather than any desire not to have children, the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), said. While right-wing governments, including the US and Hungary, are increasingly blaming falling fertility rates on a rejection of parenthood, the UNFPA's 2025 State of World Population report found most people wanted children. Dr Natalia Kanem, executive director of UNFPA, said: 'The issue is lack of choice, not desire, with major consequences for individuals and societies. 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.' A poll for the report carried out by YouGov in 14 countries found almost a fifth of people said they did not have the size of family they desired, with one in nine believing they would have fewer children than they wanted and 7% that they would have more. The leading barrier to having children was money, with 39% of people saying financial constraints had either led to them having fewer children than desired or were likely to do so. Women were nearly twice as likely as men to say that an unequal division of domestic labour was a factor, while both men and women said fears about the future, including around climate change and conflict, had meant they limited their family size. 'Many countries are grappling with ageing and shrinking populations, labour shortages, and rising healthcare and pension costs. These are real concerns, yet they are leading some to the wrong conclusions,' said Kanem. 'Rather than promoting women's workforce participation, which is actually shown to improve economic productivity, amid population ageing there seems to be a growing insistence that women and young people have more children. Related: The truth behind Indian extremists' anti-Muslim 'great replacement theory' 'In some cases, it may be the neighbour next door urging you to get married before it's too late. In others, it may be the government putting up advertisements that basically say the same thing. And in some instances, it is countries imposing restrictions on the availability of contraceptives and other services.' However, neither coercive policies aimed at increasing births (such as restrictions on abortion and contraception), nor financial incentives such as US proposals for a $5,000 'baby bonus' paid to new mothers, nor efforts to tackle decreasing fertility rates appear to have much long-term impact and could backfire, the report warns. Lack of access to safe terminations led to unsafe abortions, a leading cause of maternal death and of infections that caused infertility, Kanem said. 'We also see that when people feel their reproductive choices are being steered, when policies are even just perceived as being too coercive, people react and they are less likely to have children. 'Clearly,' she added, 'the answer lies not in limiting choice or selecting who gets to exercise choice; the answer is to expand real choice to all people.'
NDTV
3 days ago
- Politics
- NDTV
Trump's Cuts Are 'Devastating' For Vulnerable Women Worldwide: UN
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has faced budget cuts before, but the impact of President Donald Trump's policies has been even more "devastating" for reproductive health worldwide, chief Natalia Kanem told AFP. The agency has been targeted by US conservatives since the Kemp-Kasten Amendment's enactment in 1985 by Congress, when the administration of then president Ronald Reagan rallied against China's population policies, accusing Beijing of promoting forced abortions and sterilizations. All subsequent Republican presidencies have cut US funding to UNFPA, and the second Trump administration is no exception. "We've had over $330 million worth of projects ended," virtually overnight, in "some of the hardest hit regions of the world" like Afghanistan, Kanem said in an interview coinciding with the release of the UNFPA's annual report Tuesday. "So yes, we are suffering." Kanem pointed to the Zaatari refugee camp in Jordan as an example, where over the years more than 18,000 pregnancies were delivered by "heroic midwives" who "conducted these over 18,000 deliveries without a single maternal death, which you know, in a crisis situation is extraordinary." "Those maternity wards today have closed. The funding cuts immediately have meant that those midwives are no longer able to do their jobs," Kanem said. Although it is too soon to estimate the precise impacts of the US cuts, they will inevitably result in increased maternal mortality and more unintended pregnancies, according to Kanem. "What's different this time for UNFPA is that our ecosystem of other reproductive health actors who might be able to fill in for us," Kanem said, adding they are "reeling from huge impact of having their funding denied." The Trump administration has slashed many such external aid programs. "So it is very lamentable that this year, to me, has been drastically worse than ever before, precisely because now everybody is caught up in the whirlwind." "The withdrawal of the United States from the funding arena for reproductive health has been devastating," Kanem said. Desire and rights American policy is not only marked by funding cuts, but also a challenge to gender equality matters. "There will be debates about concepts, but there shouldn't be any debate about the non-negotiability of the rights and choices of women and adolescent girls," Kanem emphasized. "We always embrace change, but we should not compromise on these common values which spell the difference between life and death for women and girls all around the world," she continued. "Women deserve support. Adolescent girls deserve to finish their schooling, not become pregnant, not be bartered or sent off into marriage as a non-solution to issues that families may face." The UNFPA's annual report, published Tuesday and based on the results of an survey of 14,000 people from 14 countries -- nations which represent over a third of the world's population -- also underscores concerns that millions of people around the world cannot create the families they desire. More than 40 percent of those over the age of 50 reported not having the number of children they wanted -- with 31 percent saying they had fewer kids than they desired and 12 percent saying they had more than they wanted. More than half of respondents said economic barriers prevented them from having more children. Conversely, one in five said they were pressured into having a child, and one in three adults reported an unintended pregnancy. The majority of people "live in countries where fertility rates have fallen so far and so fast that they are below replacement," Kanem said. "We know that the issue of population pressure takes almost like a headline drastic view. Some people think there are way too many people. Others are saying we don't have enough, women should have more babies," Kanem said. "What UNFPA really cares about is a woman's true desire, rights and choices," Kanem said.
Indian Express
3 days ago
- General
- Indian Express
‘Millions unable to realise reproductive goals': UNFPA State of World Population Report 2025 reveals crisis of fertility aspirations
One in three adult Indians (36%) face unintended pregnancies, while 30% experience unfulfilled desire for having either more or fewer children. Notably, 23% faced both, according to the United Nations Population Fund's (UNFPA) 2025 State of World Population (SOWP) Report released Tuesday morning. 'Vast numbers of people are unable to create the families they want,' Dr Natalia Kanem, executive director of UNFPA, told reporters at a virtual media conference. 'The issue is lack of choice, not desire, with major consequences for individuals and societies. 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,' Kanem said. This year's report, 'The real fertility crisis: The pursuit of reproductive agency in a changing world' has called for a shift from panic over falling fertility to addressing unmet reproductive goals. SOWP 2025 underlines that millions of individuals are unable to realise their real fertility goals. This is the real crisis, not underpopulation or overpopulation. And, the answer lies in greater reproductive agency – a person's ability to make free and informed choices about sex, contraception, and starting a family. The report draws on academic research and new data from a UNFPA–YouGov survey spanning 14 countries, including India. The report finds that one in five people globally expect not to have the number of children they desire. Key drivers include the prohibitive cost of parenthood, job insecurity, housing, concerns over the state of the world, and the lack of a suitable partner. A toxic blend of economic precarity and sexism plays a role in many of these issues, the report shows. Barriers include financial limitation, housing constraints Key findings from the UNFPA–YouGov Survey 2025, an online poll with 14,000 respondents, reveal multiple barriers to reproductive autonomy in India. Financial limitations are one of the biggest barriers to reproductive freedom. Nearly four in 10 people say financial limitations are stopping them from having the families they want. Job insecurity (21%), housing constraints (22%), and the lack of reliable childcare (18%) are making parenthood feel out of reach. Health barriers like poor general well-being (15%), infertility (13%), and limited access to pregnancy-related care (14%) add further strain. Many are also holding back due to growing anxiety about the future—from climate change to political and social instability. Nineteen per cent faced partner or family pressure to have fewer children than they personally wanted. Trends need deeper investigation The report challenges global narratives around 'population explosion' versus 'population collapse'. Replacement-level fertility, commonly defined as 2.1 births per woman, is the rate at which a population size remains the same from one generation to the next. While India may have reached replacement-level fertility of 2.0, many people, especially women, still face significant barriers to making free and informed decisions about their reproductive lives and significant disparities persist across regions and states. These barriers create what the report identifies as India's 'high fertility and low fertility duality. According to Professor T V Sekher from the International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS), Mumbai, the real worry is the decline in population size instead of concern over population explosion. 'The possibility of population extinction is getting attention now. Low fertility is inevitable, and India is no exception. A large number of urban Indian couples prefer only one child, irrespective of boy or girl. Fertility will go down further. Efforts taken by many countries to boost their fertility levels did not succeed. China is a classic example in recent times,' he said. Dr S Iruduya Rajan, chairperson of the Institute of Migration and Development, Kerala, observed that the concerns raised in the latest report are highly relevant to India. 'Based on my understanding, at least 10% of couples in India face difficulties in conceiving, which is evident from the rapid increase in fertility clinics across urban areas. Additionally, around 10% of newly married young couples are uncertain about whether to have children now or delay parenthood,' Dr Rajan said. 'It is important to understand the reasons behind this hesitation—what factors are demotivating them from starting a family. Furthermore, about 30% of couples stop at having just one child, even though they may have the desire for a second. These trends need deeper investigation to understand the social, economic, and personal factors influencing such decisions,' he added. 'Deep inequalities across states, castes, income groups' In the 1970s, women on average had nearly five children. Now, they have close to two. This milestone reflects progress in health and education, but masks regional diversity in the Total Fertility Rate, which is the average number of children a woman will have in her lifetime. Andrea M Wojnar, UNFPA India Representative, explained that thanks to improved education and access to reproductive healthcare, India has made progress in lowering fertility rates. 'However, deep inequalities persist across states, castes, and income groups,' she said. Fertility has fallen below the replacement level (2.1) in 31 states/UTs, but remains high in Bihar (3.0), Meghalaya (2.9), and Uttar Pradesh (2.7). Urban-rural gaps persist, and seven states have yet to reach replacement TFR in rural areas. In Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Delhi, many couples delay or skip childbirth due to costs and work-life conflict, especially among educated middle-class women. This duality reflects differences in economic opportunities, access to healthcare, education levels, and prevailing gender and social norms. 'The real demographic dividend comes when everyone has the freedom and means to make informed reproductive choices. India has a unique opportunity to show how reproductive rights and economic prosperity can advance together,' Wojnar added. Limited infertility services in public sector Infertility remains under-prioritised in India and needs to be considered for inclusion under the government's health insurance schemes. An estimated 27.5 million Indian couples face infertility, yet public sector services are limited, while private care remains expensive and largely confined to urban centres. Social stigma is particularly harsh on women, though fertility challenges affect both sexes as per the report. UNFPA's vision for India calls for 'demographic resilience'—societies' ability to adapt to population change without sacrificing human rights. The report outlines five key pillars for India's rights-based approach. These include expanding sexual reproductive health services with universal access to contraception, safe abortion, maternal health, and infertility care, removing structural barriers by investing in childcare, education, housing, and workplace flexibility, promoting inclusive policies, extending services to unmarried individuals, LGBTQIA+ persons, and other marginalised groups, improving data and accountability beyond fertility rates to measure unmet family planning needs and bodily autonomy, and fostering social change through community initiatives challenging stigma and building health literacy. Anuradha Mascarenhas is a journalist with The Indian Express and is based in Pune. A senior editor, Anuradha writes on health, research developments in the field of science and environment and takes keen interest in covering women's issues. With a career spanning over 25 years, Anuradha has also led teams and often coordinated the edition. ... Read More
The Sun
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Sun
Trump's cuts are ‘devastating' for vulnerable women worldwide: UN
UNITED NATIONS, UNITED STATES: The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has faced budget cuts before, but the impact of President Donald Trump's policies has been even more 'devastating' for reproductive health worldwide, chief Natalia Kanem told AFP. The agency has been targeted by US conservatives since the Kemp-Kasten Amendment's enactment in 1985 by Congress, when the administration of then president Ronald Reagan rallied against China's population policies, accusing Beijing of promoting forced abortions and sterilizations. All subsequent Republican presidencies have cut US funding to UNFPA, and the second Trump administration is no exception. 'We've had over $330 million worth of projects ended,' virtually overnight, in 'some of the hardest hit regions of the world' like Afghanistan, Kanem said in an interview coinciding with the release of the UNFPA's annual report Tuesday. 'So yes, we are suffering.' Kanem pointed to the Zaatari refugee camp in Jordan as an example, where over the years more than 18,000 pregnancies were delivered by 'heroic midwives' who 'conducted these over 18,000 deliveries without a single maternal death, which you know, in a crisis situation is extraordinary.' 'Those maternity wards today have closed. The funding cuts immediately have meant that those midwives are no longer able to do their jobs,' Kanem said. Although it is too soon to estimate the precise impacts of the US cuts, they will inevitably result in increased maternal mortality and more unintended pregnancies, according to Kanem. 'What's different this time for UNFPA is that our ecosystem of other reproductive health actors who might be able to fill in for us,' Kanem said, adding they are 'reeling from huge impact of having their funding denied.' The Trump administration has slashed many such external aid programs. 'So it is very lamentable that this year, to me, has been drastically worse than ever before, precisely because now everybody is caught up in the whirlwind.' 'The withdrawal of the United States from the funding arena for reproductive health has been devastating,' Kanem said. Desire and rights American policy is not only marked by funding cuts, but also a challenge to gender equality matters. 'There will be debates about concepts, but there shouldn't be any debate about the non-negotiability of the rights and choices of women and adolescent girls,' Kanem emphasized. 'We always embrace change, but we should not compromise on these common values which spell the difference between life and death for women and girls all around the world,' she continued. 'Women deserve support. Adolescent girls deserve to finish their schooling, not become pregnant, not be bartered or sent off into marriage as a non-solution to issues that families may face.' The UNFPA's annual report, published Tuesday and based on the results of an survey of 14,000 people from 14 countries -- nations which represent over a third of the world's population -- also underscores concerns that millions of people around the world cannot create the families they desire. More than 40 percent of those over the age of 50 reported not having the number of children they wanted -- with 31 percent saying they had fewer kids than they desired and 12 percent saying they had more than they wanted. More than half of respondents said economic barriers prevented them from having more children. Conversely, one in five said they were pressured into having a child, and one in three adults reported an unintended pregnancy. The majority of people 'live in countries where fertility rates have fallen so far and so fast that they are below replacement,' Kanem said. 'We know that the issue of population pressure takes almost like a headline drastic view. Some people think there are way too many people. Others are saying we don't have enough, women should have more babies,' Kanem said. 'What UNFPA really cares about is a woman's true desire, rights and choices,' Kanem said.
