The human population has grown significantly over the past one hundred years, going from around 2 billion people in 1920 to some 8.3 billion in 2026.
But that growth spurt might be about to reverse. Fewer people than ever are having babies, and while not quite as dramatic as the upward trajectory of the past century, it will have an impact. Europe’s current population of 450 million will fall to 428 million by 2050 if things don’t change.
One problem is that, due to the number of pregnancy-related challenges that modern life presents, even people who want to have children often don’t. With that said, it’s important to keep in mind that while modern life might not always be set up in a pregnancy-friendly manner, it is usually possible to overcome those barriers.
In this post, we’ll run through a few of the most widespread reasons people give for not having children, as well as outline their potential solutions.
Relationship Concerns
Choosing to have a baby is arguably the biggest decision one can make in life. The second biggest? Choosing who to have a baby with. It’s easy to look past relationship issues during routine, everyday life, but when you’re thinking about bringing a baby into this world, those issues have to play a prominent role in the decision-making process.
Having doubts about your partner’s ability to be a good co-parent doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t have a baby with them. It just means that you’ll need to do some work beforehand to ensure it’s the right decision. Having open, honest conversations to make sure your parenting values are aligned, having couples therapy to strengthen your bond, and making sure your relationship is watertight before getting pregnant can all make pregnancy and everything that comes after run more smoothly.
However, if you decide that your partner isn’t up to the task, then consider becoming a solo parent. It’s become a lot more popular in recent years.
Fertility Issues
While some couples get pregnant within the first month of trying, for most people, it can take some time. One in seven couples has fertility problems. For women, age is a factor — fertility gradually declines once a woman is in her thirties, and even more significantly after 35. Men, too, can have fertility issues, such as low sperm count or azoospermia (zero sperm).
Those issues make getting pregnant more challenging, but it’s important to keep in mind that a wide range of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) treatments are available that can significantly increase the odds. Sperm donation success rates are higher than ever, as are the outcomes of In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) treatment. Cryopreservation is also an option for men/women/couples who may wish to have a baby in the future.
Financial Matters
No one’s going to pretend that having a baby is cheap, averaging around £170,000 from birth through to adulthood — and if you pay for childcare, then that cost can rise by as much as £100,000.
Having reservations about your ability to meet those expenses is, therefore, understandable. Even people with well-paying jobs can’t guarantee what’s going to happen in the future, or if they’ll still have a job.
But it’s important to remember that money shouldn’t be a major obstacle when talking about something as life-changing as having a baby. It’s also entirely possible to raise a child in a much more budget-friendly way, and there’s usually a lot of government help available. In any case, most parents discover that they always find a way.
You can allay some of your finance-related fears by putting together a budget and starting a baby savings account as soon as you begin planning to have a baby.
Lifestyle Impacts
You can’t have everything in this world. If you love your current lifestyle, then the thought of giving it up may be hard to accept. For all that a baby can bring to your life, it’s also true that it limits other things — it’s hard to take a last-minute trip or spend a long evening with friends when you have a small human to look after.
In truth, you won’t miss those things once you’re a parent, but the thought of missing them can hold people back. For that, we’d recommend having a trial run in which you live a lifestyle in accordance with the type you’ll be living when you have a baby. You might just find that it’s a lot easier to live a parent lifestyle than you thought!
