The rising cost of parenthood: Why millions are choosing to have fewer children

Namrata Nangia and her husband have been thinking about having a second child since their daughter was born five years ago. But every time the conversation comes up, it ends with the same question: Can we really afford it?

The Mumbai-based couple are both employed — she works in pharmaceuticals, he in a tyre company — but say the financial strain of raising even one child is immense.

Between school fees, transportation, swimming lessons, and costly GP visits, the pressure is constant.

“It wasn’t like this when I was growing up,” Namrata says.

“We just went to school, no extras. Now it feels like every child needs activities, coaching, and classes just to keep up.”

Namrata’s story isn’t unique, says the BBC.

According to a new report by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the growing cost of raising children is one of the biggest reasons why people are having fewer kids than they want, sparking what the agency now calls a “real fertility crisis.”

The global gap between family ideals and reality

UNFPA’s latest global survey found that one in five people has, or expects to have, fewer children than they would like. The findings are based on responses from 14,000 people across 14 countries, ranging from low-income to high-income nations, including India, South Korea, the US, Brazil, Germany, and South Africa.

Despite different economies and cultures, the reasons people gave for not expanding their families were strikingly similar: the cost of living, the pressure of time, and the difficulty finding a suitable partner.

In fact, findings reflected that 39 per cent of respondents said financial limitations were the main reason they delayed or avoided having more children. In South Korea, that number jumped to 58 per cent.

Infertility was cited by only 12 per cent of respondents overall, but was significantly higher in countries like Thailand (19 per cent), the US (16 per cent), and India (13 per cent).

“We are witnessing an unprecedented global decline in fertility,” said Dr. Natalia Kanem, executive director of UNFPA.

“What’s striking is that most people still want two or more children. The crisis isn’t about desire — it’s about barriers.”

A shift in global narrative

Experts say this is a notable turning point for the UNFPA, which has traditionally focused on reducing unintended pregnancies and increasing access to contraception.

“This is the first time the UN has gone all-in on low fertility as a pressing issue,” said Professor Stuart Gietel-Basten, a demographer at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.

“For decades, governments worried about too many births, now, many are scrambling to reverse population decline.”

In recent years, countries like Japan, Thailand, South Korea, and China have gone from fearing overpopulation to trying to incentivise higher birth rates.

But the UNFPA is warning against reactionary policies that pressure women into having children or restrict reproductive rights.

“We must be careful not to let low fertility be used as an excuse for gender-conservative or anti-immigrant policies,” Dr. Kanem said.

The time crisis

Beyond money, time emerged as an even greater hurdle in the global survey.

Long work hours, exhausting commutes, and a lack of childcare support are factors that are making family life feel unsustainable.

Namrata, for example, spends at least three hours each day commuting to and from work. By the time she gets home, she’s exhausted— but still wants to be present for her daughter. It’s a constant juggle that leaves little room for rest or reflection.

“After a long day, I still feel guilty for not spending enough time with her,” she says.

“We don’t get much sleep. That’s why, for now, we’ve decided to focus on just one child.”

Looking ahead

This UNFPA survey is a pilot for a broader global study that will expand to 50 countries later this year. And while the sample sizes were too small to provide deep insights across age groups, the trends are already clear: people want more children than they’re having, but feel boxed in by structural pressures.

Demographer Anna Rotkirch, who advises Finland’s government on population policy, says the data supports what researchers have long known in Europe: “There’s more undershooting than overshooting of fertility ideals.”