Adults in their prime child-bearing years are having fewer kids than the generations before them, something that came to a head in 2023 when the U.S. fertility rate reached its lowest level ever. And while every individual has their own reasons for not conceiving, the soaring cost of living is a major consideration for younger generations.
In fact, people under 50 without kids are three times more likely than older childless people—36% compared to 12%—to say they can't afford to have them, according to a new report from Pew Research Center. Since 2018, the share of young U.S. adults who say they are unlikely to ever have kids increased from 37% to 47% in 2023.
