A new survey released by the Pew Research Center on Thursday, July 25, revealed that the proportion of adults under 50 in the United States who do not have children is on the rise, jumping from 37% in 2018 to 47% in 2023.
The co-author of the report, Rachel Minkin, deputy researcher at the Pew Research Center, stated, “We want to understand more about the reasons why adults choose not to have children, their experiences, and the impact this decision has on their relationships.”
The latest Pew research results are based on a survey of over 3,300 childless adults who indicated a lack of desire to have children. While the researchers did find that respondents reported some difficulties and pressures, they also found that childless individuals expressed that their life experiences were fulfilling.
“We see that for most people… having a fulfilling life doesn’t necessarily hinge on whether they have children,” Minkin said.
The study revealed that there are various reasons why individuals choose not to have children, including economic issues, infertility, or circumstances beyond their control.
The Pew Research Center’s study surveyed two groups of American adults: childless adults aged 18 to 49 (referred to as the younger group) and Americans aged 50 and above without children (referred to as the older group).
The survey showed that 57% of adults in the younger group stated that the primary reason for not having children was simply that they “just don’t want to” have them, while 40% of the older group indicated that parenthood “never happened,” meaning it was due to circumstances beyond their control.
Other common reasons for both the younger and older groups for not having children include:
– Wanting to focus on other things: 44% for the younger group, 21% for the older group
– Concerns about the state of the world: 38% for the younger group, 13% for the older group
– Cost of raising children: 36% for the younger group, 12% for the older group
– Concerns about the environment: 26% for the younger group, 6% for the older group
– Difficulty finding a suitable partner: 24% for the younger group, 6% for the older group
– Infertility or other medical reasons: 13% for the younger group, 15% for the older group
The majority of adults in both age groups mentioned that not having children made it easier for them to afford the things they wanted, save for the future, and engage in their hobbies.
Tina Wahlstrom, a 52-year-old nurse from Minneapolis, Minnesota, who doesn’t have children, described herself as inherently a caregiver but noted that the idea of having or adopting children has never appealed to her. She stated, “I’ve never felt excited about becoming a mother, raising kids, but I’ve thought about it a lot.” She added, “I see my friends with wonderful kids, leading fun, fulfilling lives, but I don’t envy that.”
Wahlstrom mentioned that without children, she can spend her free time with her golden retriever, pursue hobbies like running and traveling. She emphasized, “We usually go somewhere every month or every other month. If we had kids, that definitely wouldn’t happen. We couldn’t afford it.” She also noted that she and her husband typically travel abroad twice a year. “We live simply so we can travel, do things for ourselves. I don’t think it makes us selfish. It’s just the lifestyle we’ve chosen.”
Most young Americans interviewed also expressed that not having children contributed to their social lives (58%) and success in their work or careers (61%).
Though the surveyed adults listed various benefits of not having children, the research also revealed some apparent drawbacks.
People aged 50 and above without children were more likely to frequently worry compared to parents of the same age group: concerns about whether someone would take care of them as they age, feeling lonely as they grow older, but not as much worrying about their financial situation.
In the older group of 50 and above without children, between 19% and 35% expressed being very or frequently worried about various factors, with most indicating that they sometimes worry about these issues, with a lower percentage of concerns noted in the younger group. Specific data includes:
– Having enough money in old age: Older group (35%), younger group (46%)
– Having someone to care for them in old age: Older group (26%), younger group (20%)
– Feeling lonely in old age: Older group (19%), younger group (15%)
– Passing on their values and traditions after their death: Older group (11%), younger group (17%)
Others surveyed in the Pew study also reported challenges in the workplace, with one-third of individuals aged 50 and above stating they need to take on additional work or responsibilities, and 30% indicating they are not given as much flexibility in the workplace as their colleagues with children.
Furthermore, some respondents mentioned feeling pressure due to not having children. Over 40% of childless elderly women stated they sometimes feel societal pressure, while 34% mentioned pressure from family members.