As part of the latest study, UNFPA interviewed about 14 thousand people in 14 countries about the birth of children. Every fifth respondent said that he does not have and will not be the desired number of children.
Together in countries where a survey was conducted: Brazil, Hungary, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Morocco, Mexico, Nigeria, USA, Thailand, Sweden, South Korea and South Africa, and about a third of the population of the planet lives. This list presents countries with low, medium and high income, as well as low and high birth rate. UNFPA employees interviewed both relatively young adults and those who have already left reproductive age.
About 40% of respondents in all countries said that they could not have children due to financial restrictions. Most often, this option was chosen by residents of South Korea (58%), less often (19%) – respondents from Sweden.
The option “infertility or difficulties with conception” as the main reason that prevented them from having the desired number of children was chosen only 12% of respondents. In a number of countries, this option was more popular: in Thailand (19%), the USA (16%), South Africa (15%), Nigeria (14%) and India (13%).
Also, as UNFPA polling, an even greater barrier to the birth of children than a lack of finances from parents, is a lack of time.
The head of UNFPA Natalya Kanam noted that an unprecedented decrease in the birth rate began in the world. She recalled that 40 years ago, China, Korea, Japan, Thailand and Türkiye were preoccupied with the problem of excessive overpopulation. And already by 2015, they all tried to at least somehow increase the birth rate.
