Millions Face Unmet Fertility Aspirations Globally, UNFPA Report Shows
The latest State of World Population Report 2025 by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) exposes a pressing global issue: one in five people anticipate they won’t achieve their desired number of children. This stems from a complex web of economic pressures including the high cost of raising children, job insecurity, housing challenges, and societal concerns.
India’s Fertility Landscape: A Snapshot of Unfulfilled Parenthood
In India, the statistics are equally striking. 36% of adults report experiencing unintended pregnancies while nearly 30% express dissatisfaction with the number of children they have—either wanting more or fewer. Furthermore, almost a quarter have faced both scenarios, reflecting a widespread disconnect between reproductive desires and reality.
UNFPA’s executive director highlighted that the core issue is not a lack of desire but rather a lack of choice. She emphasized that solutions lie in better policies such as paid family leave, affordable fertility treatments, and stronger partner support systems.
Economic and Social Barriers to Parenthood
The report draws insights from a comprehensive survey across 14 countries, including India, uncovering the main hurdles individuals face. Financial constraints top the list, with nearly four in ten Indians citing money as a key limiting factor. Issues like job insecurity (21%), housing limitations (22%), and lack of reliable childcare (18%) further complicate the prospect of parenthood.
Health challenges such as infertility, insufficient pregnancy care, and general wellbeing concerns also weigh heavily. Additionally, fears about future uncertainties, from climate change to political instability, contribute to many opting to delay or forgo childbearing altogether.
Complex Social Dynamics and Pressures
Family and partner expectations add another layer, with nearly one in five individuals experiencing pressure to have fewer children than they desire. Sexism and economic vulnerability exacerbate these barriers, leaving many caught in a predicament of constrained freedom over reproductive decisions.
Challenging Demographic Narratives: Beyond Population Panic
The UNFPA report calls for a shift away from simplistic debates about population explosion or collapse. In India, the fertility rate has neared replacement levels—averaging around 2.0 children per woman—yet uneven access to reproductive autonomy persists.
Experts note a duality where some regions still exhibit high fertility rates while others see significant declines. For example, states like Bihar, Meghalaya, and Uttar Pradesh maintain relatively high fertility, whereas many others have dipped below replacement thresholds.
Urban families increasingly prefer fewer children, often influenced by economic realities and changing social norms. The report highlights that this shift is irreversible, echoing global trends where efforts to boost fertility have largely fallen short.
Regional Inequalities and Social Disparities
While India has made remarkable progress—from nearly five children per woman in the 1970s to close to two today—there remain stark disparities. Fertility trends vary widely across states, castes, income groups, and urban-rural divides. Rural areas in several states have yet to reach replacement-level fertility.
Highly educated urban women often delay or choose not to have children due to work-life balance and financial concerns. This diversity reflects broader issues related to economic opportunity, education, healthcare access, and entrenched gender norms.
Infertility: An Overlooked Challenge
Infertility affects an estimated 27.5 million couples in India, yet services remain scarce and primarily accessible to urban populations through expensive private care. Social stigma, especially directed at women, compounds the struggle.
Experts advocate for integrating fertility care into public health insurance schemes and expanding support to ensure equitable reproductive health services.
Paths Forward: Enhancing Reproductive Agency
The UNFPA report underscores the need for a holistic, rights-based approach to reproductive health. Its recommendations include:
- Expanding universal access to contraception, safe abortion, maternal health services, and infertility care
- Removing social and economic barriers, investing in childcare, education, housing, and workplace flexibility
- Promoting inclusive policies that reach unmarried individuals, LGBTQIA+ communities, and marginalized groups
- Improving data collection to measure unmet needs beyond fertility rates
- Encouraging social change through community engagement and health literacy campaigns
This vision aims to build demographic resilience—enabling societies to adapt to population changes without compromising human rights or reproductive freedoms.
Conclusion: Bridging the Gap Between Desire and Reality
The 2025 State of World Population Report reveals a vital distinction: the real fertility crisis lies not in numbers but in autonomy. Millions worldwide want children but are hindered by barriers beyond their control. Addressing these challenges demands informed policies, societal shift, and unwavering commitment to reproductive rights.
As India navigates its own fertility complexities amidst economic and social transformations, embracing this approach could enhance both individual wellbeing and broader demographic stability.
