AsianFin — A new United Nations report reveals that the most significant obstacles preventing people from having children are not personal choice, but rather economic hardship and gender discrimination.

These challenges are leaving millions unable to meet their desired family size.

According to the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), the high cost of raising children, job insecurity, expensive housing, global uncertainty, and difficulty finding suitable partners are the main reasons why many people are having fewer children than they would like.

The findings come from the 2025 State of World Population Report, which surveyed individuals across a wide range of countries including South Korea, Thailand, Italy, Hungary, Germany, Sweden, Brazil, Mexico, the U.S., India, Indonesia, Morocco, South Africa, and Nigeria—together representing one-third of the world’s population.

Contrary to the belief that people are simply less interested in having children, the majority of respondents said they do want to start families, but feel structural and societal barriers are holding them back. The UNFPA emphasized the need for policies that address these underlying issues to help people achieve their reproductive goals.