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Studies show that Gen Z are becoming increasingly uncertain about having kids, citing climate change and economic uncertainty as key factors in their decisions. Should we be worried?
Are you a family person? Research over the last few years suggests that Gen Z and those under 50 are becoming increasingly unsure about having children.
Studies by Pew Research have found that a growing percentage of young folks are turning their backs on traditional parenting and family structures. In 2018, 37% of participants in a survey said they were ‘unlikely’ to have children. By 2023, this had ballooned to 47%. Last year, a survey by MassMutual reported that 23% of adults aged between 18 and 43 do not plan on ever being parents.
An analysis of 2023 birth certificate data by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed that the US birth rate had dropped to a record low. 2% fewer babies are now being born each year, which could cause population imbalances in the coming decades.
In the UK, birth rates have been falling for over ten years. A survey by the University of Southampton sampled 7,000 people aged 18 to 59 in 2024. The results indicated that 15% of those aged 18 to 24 are adamantly against having children; less than half of younger Millennials also said they ‘definitely or probably intend’ to start a family.
According to the data, it seems that younger adults are steadily becoming uneasy at the thought of raising a family, and no longer see it as a moral obligation that’s expected of them as they move into middle age. What’s causing this shift in priorities?
Unsurprisingly, it seems that financial worries are the biggest factor. As we’ve extensively reported before, Gen Z are struggling to get their feet onto the property ladder. More young people than ever are borrowing from their parents, taking out loans, and living at home in order to save before they can get anywhere near a housing deposit.
In a study by Business Insider earlier this year, 72% of Gen Z said they wanted to achieve financial security in the next five years, compared to only 27% who are looking to start a family. Those interviewed were aged 18 to 26. These numbers would imply that money and stability are a far bigger concern than raising children – at least for now.
An overwhelming majority also cited money as a key influence in their decision to have children, with 84% responding as such in a survey by Securian Financial in early 2025. Inflation, job security and the spiralling cost of living have all put parenting ambitions on the backburner.
Simply put, it takes longer today for young people to own a living space and have savings to spare. Kids are expensive. It is a serious financial commitment that requires extensive planning and consideration and not enough Gen Zers are anywhere near ready enough to provide for others beyond themselves.
In the UK, the average cost of raising a child up to 18 years of age is now between £260,000 and £290,000; keep in mind that this doesn’t include luxuries. Young parents must consider healthcare, educational costs, and everyday expenses that will continue to increase in the coming years. If you’re barely scraping by and trying to carve a life for yourself, these realities can be incredibly daunting.
It’s not all about cash, mind. Another increasingly growing concern amongst Gen Z is climate change. We’ve explored this topic in a previous newsletter, with 45% of young people saying they’re impacted by climate anxiety on a regular basis. A further 90% want more political action regarding climate change.
In fact, Gen Z are far more likely to perceive this problem as present and personal, rather than an abstract idea that will be sorted in the distant future. Just this week we’ve seen the very real results of a warming world as Hurricane Melissa wrecks havoc on Jamaica. Young people are accustomed to seeing devastation on a routine basis, from wildfires in LA to coral bleaching in our oceans.
These are things happening right now, which begs the question; how bad will things be for our children several decades from now? Is it morally correct to bring life into a world that is, by all accounts, slowly being set on fire? These are very real considerations for Gen Z as they weigh up the reality of parenthood.
A recent study by solutions platform PVFARM reported that 38% of Gen Z said that climate change is directly putting them off having children, with many believing it would be irresponsible to do so in a world that is completely unstable and uninhabitable. ‘This is not an abstract threat,’ said HR consultant Bryan Driscoll to Newsweek. ‘It’s the backdrop of their entire lives.’
A reduction in birth rates and a steadily shrinking pool of young people can cause havoc on a country’s wider population. If left unchecked, an ageing public may result in a smaller labour force, greater pressure on pensions and state benefits, and increased strains on healthcare providers. This could be devastating in countries like the UK, where the NHS already faces significant challenges.
Still, despite all the doom and gloom surrounding family ambitions, it’s worth mentioning that many Gen Zers are still somewhat young.
Our priorities and ideals can shift rapidly throughout our twenties and thirties, and plenty of those surveyed in 2025 might have a different opinion five years from now. A greater portion of young adults will be in a better position economically and emotionally – though anxieties around the climate and politics are unlikely to go away.
The data does suggest that momentum is likely to increase, with more Gen Zers and Gen Alpha prioritising independence and financial freedom amidst a progressively turbulent world. Even asking around our office this week, half of our staff members said they didn’t want children. It seems that societal assumptions regarding life paths may undergo huge changes in the next few years.
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