A new report from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has revealed a sharp and historic global decline in fertility rates—not because people no longer want children, but because many believe they can’t afford to raise them.

The report, which surveyed 14,000 people across 14 countries—including the U.S., India, Brazil, South Korea, and Germany—found that one in five respondents either hadn’t had or didn’t expect to have the number of children they desired.

“This represents an unprecedented decline in fertility,” said UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Natalia Kanem. “The majority of respondents want two or more children, but many are unable to achieve this goal due to financial and social constraints. That’s the real crisis.”

The study identified economic pressure as the primary cause, with 39% of participants citing financial concerns as their main reason for having fewer children. The figure was even higher in South Korea (58%), while only 19% of respondents in Sweden said the same.

Other significant factors included time constraints, with many struggling to balance work demands with family life. Infertility was also a notable concern, mentioned by 12% of respondents overall. The figure rose to 19% in Thailand, 16% in the United States, and 13% in India.

Traditionally, the UNFPA has focused on preventing unplanned pregnancies and promoting access to contraception. However, this latest report signals a shift toward addressing the issue of “underachieved fertility.”

“This is the first time the UN has made low fertility such a central concern,” noted Professor Stuart Gietel-Basten, a demographer at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. He cautioned against extreme political responses, warning that fears of population decline are sometimes used to justify nationalist, anti-immigration, and gender-regressive policies.

Dr. Kanem echoed this concern, pointing out that countries like China, Korea, Japan, Thailand, and Turkey once feared overpopulation, but by 2015, they had reversed course and were actively encouraging higher birth rates.