Nov. 22, 2021 — Extra U.S. adults who don’t have already got kids are saying they don’t plan to have any sooner or later, in accordance to a brand new survey by the Pew Analysis Middle.
Birthrates dropped within the U.S. through the pandemic, marking a decline for the sixth yr in a row. Fertility charges within the U.S. have been already at a report low earlier than the pandemic, the middle reported.
As a part of the ballot, non-parents ages 18-49 answered the query, “Enthusiastic about the longer term, how possible is it that you should have kids sometime?”
About 44% stated it’s “not too possible” or “in no way possible” that they may have kids sometime, which is up 7 proportion factors from the 37% who stated the identical in a 2018 Pew survey. What’s extra, 74% of adults beneath 50 who’re mother and father stated they aren’t more likely to have extra youngsters.
In contrast, 26% of childless adults stated it’s “very possible” they may have youngsters, which is down from 32% in 2018. About 29% stated “considerably possible” each this yr and in 2018.
Amongst mother and father and non-parents, women and men have been equally more likely to say they in all probability gained’t have youngsters sooner or later. Adults of their 40s have been extra more likely to say they wouldn’t have youngsters.
When requested for a purpose, 56% of non-parents stated they merely don’t need to have youngsters. Childless adults beneath age 40 have been extra more likely to say this than these ages 40-49. There have been no variations between women and men.
Past that, 43% cited causes resembling medical points, financial or monetary considerations, and never having a accomplice. A smaller variety of individuals cited their age or their accomplice’s age, the “state of the world,” environmental considerations, and local weather change.
Mother and father additionally cited medical points and monetary considerations as the highest the reason why they in all probability wouldn’t have extra youngsters. Moms have been extra more likely to point out medical points, and fathers have been extra more likely to cite already having youngsters. About 26% of fogeys beneath age 40 cited monetary considerations.
The ballot factors to long-term traits in parenthood within the U.S., in accordance to The Washington Submit. In April, the Census Bureau reported that within the final decade, the U.S. inhabitants grew on the second-slowest charge for any 10-year interval because the nation was based.
Different current surveys have pointed to the prices of childcare, well being care, and training as causes to postpone or not have youngsters, the newspaper reported. International instability, the COVID-19 pandemic, and local weather change have additionally led to altering attitudes about marriage, kids, and life priorities.
