A new study has found that the majority of U.S. adults under 50 do not want to have children.
According to the Pew Research Center, 57% of adults under 50 who say they are unlikely to ever have children cite a lack of desire as their main reason. In comparison, 31% of adults aged 50 and older without children say this was a key reason they never had them.
This comes as the U.S. fertility rate hit a historic low in 2023, with an increasing number of women aged 25 to 44 never having given birth.
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Between 2018 and 2023, the proportion of U.S. adults under 50 without children who have little or no intention of having them increased by 10 percentage points, rising from 37% to 47%, according to Pew’s survey.
In its latest report, Pew examined the experiences of two groups: U.S. adults aged 50 and older without children, and those under 50 who do not have children and say they are unlikely to have them in the future.
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Among the older group, about 38% say there was a time they considered having children, while 32% say they never wanted children. Around 25% were unsure. Some respondents reported feeling pressured by family, friends, or society to have children.
The reasons for not having children differ between the older and younger groups. Most adults aged 50 and older said it “just didn’t happen,” while the younger group most often said they simply don’t want to have kids. Women under 50 were especially likely to express this sentiment (64% vs. 50% of men in the same group).
Interestingly, many respondents in both groups said not having children made it easier to afford the things they want, pursue hobbies and interests, and save for the future. A majority of the younger group also reported being more successful in their careers and maintaining an active social life due to not having children.
However, majorities in both groups believe that parents have an advantage when it comes to having someone to care for them as they age. Large shares in both groups also noted that living a fulfilling life is not necessarily tied to having children.
The Pew Research Center survey, conducted from April 29 to May 19, 2024, included 2,542 adults aged 50 and older without children, and 770 adults aged 18 to 49 without children who say they are unlikely to have them.
Why Do U.S. Adults Choose Not to Have Children?
The study explored reasons why U.S. adults choose not to have children. It focused on those aged 50 and older who haven’t had kids, as well as those under 50 who say they are unlikely to ever become parents.
By margins of at least 10 percentage points, those in the younger group were more likely than those aged 50 and older to cite the following as major reasons:
- They just don’t want to have children (57% in the younger group vs. 31% in the older group)
- They want to focus on other things, such as their career or interests (44% vs. 21%)
- Concerns about the state of the world, excluding the environment (38% vs. 13%)
- They can’t afford to raise a child (36% vs. 12%)
- Concerns about the environment, including climate change (26% vs. 6%)
- They don’t really like children (20% vs. 8%)
What are your reasons for not having kids, or what might make you decide not to have children? Share with us in the comments section.
