What major factors prevent people from having as many children as they desire?

Published on 20/06/2025 - 14:54 GMT+2

Millions of group are incapable to person nan number of children they want owed to barriers related to economical and wellness factors, according to a caller United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) report.

The study reveals that a deficiency of choice, not desire, is what is stopping group from having nan families they want, defying claims of group rejecting parenthood.

"Reproductive agency is much than conscionable state from coercion aliases improved entree to services, it is nan afloat scope of conditions that alteration group to workout their reproductive authorities and guarantee existent choice, including gender equality, economical stability, decent wellness and assurance successful nan future," said Natalia Kanem, executive head astatine UNFPA.

UNFPA and YouGov conducted an online study of much than 14,000 adults, some men and women, crossed 14 countries that together are location to complete 37% of nan world population.

The mostly of some men and women successful nan 4 EU personnel states - Italy, Hungary, Germany and Sweden - analysed successful nan study indicated that 2 children is their perfect number.

Barriers to having children

Among these 4 EU countries analysed successful nan study, factors specified arsenic infertility and trouble conceiving, arsenic good arsenic mediocre wide wellness aliases chronic illnesses, effect Italy nan most, pinch 15% and 13% respectively.

Germany and Sweden besides reported akin issues.

Financial limitations are besides 1 of nan main issues keeping these countries from having much children, pinch Hungary reporting nan highest complaint astatine 34%.

Germany and Sweden person besides pointed retired financial limitations arsenic a superior interest regarding their desired number of children.

Meanwhile, Italian respondents struggled nan astir pinch unemployment aliases occupation insecurity astatine 30%.

Concerns regarding nan existent governmental aliases societal scenery were noted arsenic a obstruction by 19% of respondents successful Italy.

Italian, Swedish, and Hungarian respondents were besides concerned by nan deficiency of a suitable partner, astatine 17%.

Only 15% of those surveyed successful Germany shared this concern.