Why no children? Depends on the age of who you’re asking: Poll
- Study divided the question of childlessness at age 50
- Money, state of the world, negative childhoods among reasons
- More than half under 50 said they just don’t want to be parents
Wooden board cutout of a family having a red forbidden sign on children. Illustration of the concept of child-free restaurants and childless millennial couples
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(NewsNation) — Why didn’t you have children? For people aged 50 and older, the answer is often, “It just didn’t happen.” But among those younger than 50, the answer is often, “I just don’t want to.” Those are the general findings in a new study on parenthood by the Pew Research Center.
Among the reasons people gave for not having or intending not to have children:
- Desire to focus on other things in life
- Concerns about the state of the world
- Can’t or couldn’t afford to raise a child
- Haven’t or didn’t find the right partner
- Don’t really like children
- Negative experiences in their own childhood
- Infertility or other medical reasons
- A spouse or partner didn’t want children
- It just never happened (asked of those 50+)
According to a separate Pew survey published last year, there was a 10% increase in the number of U.S. adults younger than 50 who said they’re unlikely to ever have children. It says the percentage rose from 37% in 2018 to 47% in 2023.
While the under-50 and over-50 groups share those reasons, the percentage of each group stating a specific reason varies widely.
While 31% of those over 50 said they never wanted to have children, 57% of those under 50 said they don’t want to be parents. About 21% of those in the older age group expressed a desire to focus on other things, while 44% in the younger group agreed.
The reasons that both groups gave in nearly equal numbers were infertility (13% under 50, 15% over 50) and an unwilling spouse/partner (11% under 50, 10% over 50).
Money played a big role in the decision by people in both age groups to remain childless. SOme 80% of those under 50 and 57% of those over 50 said having no children leaves/left more time for hobbies and interests. More than three-quarters of those in the younger group said being childless means they can save more for the future, afford things they want now, or have a greater chance at success in their careers.
The Pew survey was conducted from April 20 to May 19. It questioned 2,542 Americans aged 50 and older, and 770 ages 18 to 49. Pew puts the margin of error among the younger group at 5.3% and the older group at 2.4%
