Why people really stopped having kids: New study uncovers the surprising reasons families are shrinking
November 1, 2026
High housing costs and unequal chore loads may not fully explain the drop in birth rates around the world, according to a new report from the Institute for Family Studies and the Wheatley Institute.
The survey of nearly 10,000 respondents across more than a dozen countries points to culture, finding that peer pressure, anxiety about the future and the rise of "pet parenting" strongly influence whether couples choose to start or grow a family.
