Namrata Nanjia and her husband, residents of bustling Mumbai, have been considering having a second child since the birth of their five-year-old daughter. But every time the conversation arises, a familiar doubt returns: “Can we really afford it?”
Namrata, who works in the pharmaceutical industry, and her husband, employed at a tyre company, are financially stable by most standards. Yet, the mounting expenses of raising even one child school fees, extracurricular activities, transport, and healthcare have made growing their family feel unattainable.
“When we were growing up, there weren’t many add-ons,” Namrata explains. “Now, it’s swimming lessons, art classes, and constant check-ups you feel like you have to give your child everything.”
Their dilemma is not unique. A new report by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the UN’s reproductive health agency, reveals that the difficulty of having children is becoming a global challenge. The report highlights that hundreds of millions of people are unable to build the families they desire due to rising costs and difficulties in finding suitable partners.
The UNFPA surveyed 14,000 people across 14 diverse countries South Korea, Thailand, Italy, Hungary, Germany, Sweden, Brazil, Mexico, the United States, India, Indonesia, Morocco, South Africa, and Nigeria—collectively representing about one-third of the world’s population. Participants included both young adults and older individuals who had completed their reproductive years.
Dr. Natalia Kanem, UNFPA’s executive director, says, “The world is beginning to witness an unprecedented drop in fertility rates.”
“Most people we spoke to want two or more children. Fertility is falling because people realize they simply can’t achieve that dream. And that’s the crisis people being denied the families they desire.”
Anna Rittkirch, a demographer who advises the Finnish government on population issues, agrees. “This is a real crisis, not just an abstract concern,” she says. Having spent years studying fertility trends in Europe, Rittkirch was struck by how many people over 50—31% of them reported having fewer children than they had hoped.
Although the survey is a pilot study ahead of a broader investigation in 50 countries later this year, certain patterns are already emerging. One striking theme is the impact of economic stress.
Across all countries surveyed, 39% of respondents pointed to financial limitations as a key reason for not having children. This figure spiked to 58% in South Korea, while Sweden known for its social safety net reported the lowest concern at 19%.
While some cited infertility, only 12% of participants named it as the main issue. However, infertility concerns were more prominent in Thailand (19%), the United States (16%), South Africa (15%), Nigeria (14%), and India (13%).
“This is the first time the global reproductive health agenda has turned its attention to the challenges of low fertility,” says Stuart Gitel-Baston, a demography professor at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.
Historically, international bodies focused more on helping women limit or delay pregnancies, especially in regions with high fertility rates. But the conversation is now shifting.
Dr. Kanem cautions against overreacting to falling fertility. “We’re seeing alarmism about both overpopulation and underpopulation,” she says. “That leads to exaggerated or even manipulated policies that target women—either pressuring them to have more children or fewer.”
She notes that just 40 years ago, countries like China, Korea, Japan, Thailand, and Turkey were focused on reducing birth rates. By 2015, these same countries were scrambling to reverse the trend.
Professor Gitel-Baston adds, “When nations panic about low fertility, they often implement emergency measures. But those can spiral into nationalistic, anti-immigration, and regressive gender policies. That’s the real danger.”
Beyond finances, time is another massive hurdle. For Namrata, daily life in Mumbai means commuting three hours round-trip. By the time she gets home, she’s exhausted, yet still eager to spend quality time with her daughter.
“We hardly get enough sleep,” she confesses. “And you feel guilty all the time, like you’re not doing enough as a parent.”
So, for now, Namrata and her husband are choosing to focus their attention and resources on raising their only child. “We’re doing the best we can,” she says with quiet resolve.
The UNFPA’s findings offer a sobering glimpse into a world where fertility decline is no longer confined to wealthy nations or aging societies. The desire for children remains strong but for millions, the dream of a family is becoming harder and harder to realize.
