Last Updated on July 13, 2026 1:34 am by BIZNAMA NEWS
A new UN report shows young people have not turned away from marriage or parenthood; economic insecurity, soaring housing costs and unstable jobs are preventing them from building the families they want.
By Andalib Akhter
Falling birth rates across the world are often portrayed as evidence that younger generations have lost interest in marriage, family life and parenthood. They are frequently accused of prioritising careers, personal freedom and lifestyle over raising children. However, a new report by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) paints a far more nuanced picture. The findings suggest that the issue is not a lack of desire for family life, but the absence of the economic and social conditions needed to make those aspirations possible.
The report concludes that the overwhelming majority of young people still want to marry, find a life partner and raise children. What is preventing many from doing so is not changing values, but growing financial insecurity.
Based on responses from more than 108,000 internet users across 73 countries and territories, the survey found that 88 per cent of young people consider financial security a prerequisite for marriage and having children. Eighty-seven per cent said stable employment is essential, while 85 per cent believed they should be mentally and emotionally prepared before starting a family.
These figures reveal more than changing priorities; they highlight the economic uncertainty under which today’s young adults are making some of the most important decisions of their lives.
The report, titled “Lives, Choices and Futures: What Young People Want and the Factors Influencing Their Decisions on Relationships and Parenthood,” raises a critical question: if young people still aspire to have families, why are marriages being delayed and birth rates declining in so many countries?
The answer lies largely in economic realities.
Securing permanent employment has become increasingly difficult. In many cities, buying a home is beyond the reach of young people, while even paying rent consumes a significant portion of their income. The rising costs of higher education, childcare and everyday living, combined with insecure employment, have made long-term financial planning increasingly challenging. Under such circumstances, marriage and parenthood become not just emotional milestones but major economic decisions.
India’s Urban Challenge
The findings resonate strongly in India, where marriage and family continue to occupy a central place in social life. Yet economic realities are changing rapidly, particularly in urban centres.
In cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Pune, soaring housing costs, uncertain employment prospects, long working hours and the growing expenses associated with raising children are influencing when and whether young couples choose to marry and start families.
India also presents a unique contradiction. While many young adults continue to face strong social and family pressure to marry, they are simultaneously expected to maintain a certain standard of living after marriage. Home ownership, a car, quality education for children and long-term financial security have become benchmarks of a successful family life. As a result, many postpone marriage despite wanting to marry.
Women Face Additional Barriers
For women, the decision is often even more complex. Increased participation in higher education and the workforce has given women greater autonomy over their futures, but the distribution of household responsibilities has not evolved at the same pace.
For many women, deciding to become a mother involves more than simply wanting children. It also depends on whether their partner will genuinely share childcare and household responsibilities, whether workplaces offer adequate family-friendly policies and whether motherhood will adversely affect their careers.
Young People Still Want Families
The report challenges the widespread perception that young people no longer want children. Nearly two-thirds of respondents said marriage remains part of their ideal life, while only a small minority said they did not want children at all.
Around eight in ten respondents identified the joy of raising children as the primary motivation for becoming parents. By contrast, government incentives or broader national objectives—such as increasing the future workforce or addressing demographic decline—ranked much lower among their reasons for having children.
This finding offers an important lesson for policymakers. People do not decide to have children because a country needs more workers, taxpayers or soldiers. Family formation is fundamentally driven by personal aspirations, emotional fulfilment and human relationships.
The role of governments, therefore, is not simply to encourage higher birth rates but to create conditions in which individuals can make family decisions freely and with confidence.
According to UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Natalia Kanem, young people remain hopeful about their futures and their families. When financial barriers are reduced and individuals have the freedom to make informed choices, they are better able to build the lives they want.
What Policymakers Should Focus On
For India and many other countries grappling with concerns over declining fertility and future labour shortages, the report suggests that exhorting people to have more children—or offering one-time financial incentives—is unlikely to be enough.
Instead, governments should prioritise policies that provide stable and dignified employment, affordable housing, accessible and high-quality childcare, stronger public education and healthcare systems, paid maternity and paternity leave, and a healthier balance between work and family life.
Young people’s decisions do not occur in isolation. Access to secure housing, reliable income, equitable sharing of caregiving responsibilities, supportive workplaces and the freedom to make personal choices all shape when—and whether—they decide to marry and become parents.
The younger generation has not abandoned the idea of family. Rather, it is asking a simple but profound question: Can we provide our future family with a secure, dignified and financially stable life?
That is where the global debate on declining birth rates should begin. Instead of telling young people when to marry or how many children they should have, governments should focus on creating economic and social conditions in which marriage and parenthood no longer represent an overwhelming financial risk, but a realistic and fulfilling life choice.