New York, United States: Millions of people across the world are having fewer children than they want, not because they don’t desire parenthood, but because social and economic barriers are standing in their way, the United Nations Population Fund’s (UNFPA) 2025 State of World Population report has indicated.
According to the report, roughly one in five people globally expect they will never achieve their desired family size. More than half of respondents cited financial constraints as a major obstacle to having children, while one in five reported feeling pressured to conceive when they were not ready.
Alarmingly, one in three adults surveyed said they had experienced an unintended pregnancy. “The fundamental issue is a lack of choice, not a lack of desire,” said Dr. Gift Malunga, UNFPA Representative in Uganda. “This carries serious implications for individuals and for society as a whole.”
The 2025 UNFPA report was released under the theme “The Real Fertility Crisis: The Pursuit of Reproductive Agency in a Changing World.”
The organization is now calling on governments to create enabling environments where people can start families when and how they choose. The report recommends investments in several areas to reduce the gap between intentions and reality:
- Affordable Housing: Policies that help families access stable, affordable living arrangements.
- Decent Work: Expanding employment opportunities to alleviate economic insecurities.
- Parental Leave: Ensuring paid family leave to promote gender equality and support parents.
- Reproductive Health Services: Guaranteeing accessible, reliable, and comprehensive reproductive health care.
“At UNFPA, we believe every individual has the right to determine the number and spacing of their children, free from coercion,” Dr. Malunga emphasized. “Governments must invest in health, education, and policies that empower people to make informed choices.”
In Uganda, the report’s message resonates strongly as policymakers grapple with challenges related to youth unemployment, teenage pregnancy, and limited access to reproductive health services.
Dr. Joseph Muvawala, Executive Director of the National Planning Authority, welcomed the report’s findings. “This underscores the urgency of national strategies that prioritize reproductive health and family planning as critical components of sustainable development and well-being,” he said.
With these insights, UNFPA is urging action from governments worldwide to ensure that reproductive decisions remain in the hands of individuals—a goal essential for personal fulfillment, community prosperity, and the long-term health of nations.
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