LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) — A new study from Michigan State University (MSU) reveals a growing trend in the U.S., with fewer people wanting to become parents. The research found that the percentage of nonparents who do not want children has doubled over the past 20 years.
The study shows that the number of nonparents saying they never want children has increased from 14% in 2002 to 29% in 2023. Meanwhile, those planning to have children in the future has decreased from 79% to 59%, according to Jennifer Watling Neal, MSU psychology professor and co-author of the study.
Published in the Journal of Marriage and Family, the study categorized nonparents into three groups: “childfree” (those who do not want children), “childless” (those who want children but can’t have them), and “not yet parents” (those who plan to have children).
Using data from the National Survey of Family Growth, which surveyed 80,000 adults between 2002 and 2023, the study also considered both men and women and their desires for biological and nonbiological children.
Zachary Neal, MSU psychology professor and co-author, said the study confirms a nationwide trend. “What we found in Michigan is now happening across the U.S.,” he noted.
The research highlighted the needs of childfree adults, who face challenges such as long-term contraception and retirement planning without the expectation of children to care for them. However, medical and financial service providers often do not cater to these needs.
The research team plans to explore global trends and examine how economics and politics may influence the changing attitudes toward parenthood.
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