News | More Americans Choose Not to Become Parents: Share of Childfree Adults Doubles in 20 Years
Attitudes toward having children are undergoing a profound shift in the United States.
Recent Pew Research Center data show that more Americans are reconsidering whether to become parents. A long-term Michigan State University study found that the proportion of nonparents choosing not to have children doubled over the past 20 years, from 14% in 2002 to 29% in 2023.
Meanwhile, the proportion of nonparents who intend to become parents fell sharply from 79% to 59%. Researchers say this is not a temporary change in social sentiment but a long-term trend spanning more than two decades.
Who Is Choosing Not to Become a Parent?
The study was led by Michigan State University psychology professors Jennifer Watling Neal and Zachary Neal and published in the Journal of Marriage and Family. They analyzed seven waves of the U.S. National Survey of Family Growth covering 80,000 adults from 2002 to 2023.
The study divided nonparents into three main groups:
Childfree: People who clearly state that they do not want children.
Childless: People who want children but cannot have them.
Not yet parents: People who currently have no children but plan to have them in the future.
Watling Neal said: “Previous studies using these data usually focused only on female fertility. For the first time, we considered the wishes of men and women regarding both biological and nonbiological children.” She emphasized that the study examines not only whether people can have children but whether they want them.
Zachary Neal added: “We had already observed rapid growth in Michigan’s childfree adult population. These national data further confirm that this is a widespread social trend across the United States.”
Parenthood Is Becoming Less Central, Not Simply Less Attainable
People who do not have children are often assumed to want them but be unable to have them. The study found that this childless group represents a very small share of nonparents and has remained relatively stable over time.
Instead, growth is driven by people who actively choose not to have children and clearly state that they do not intend to become parents.
Watling Neal noted: “This population is often overlooked in healthcare, financial services, and social systems. They need long-term contraception and retirement planning that does not depend on children, but current services often do not meet those needs.”
Next Steps: Global Trends and Economic and Political Factors
The research team plans to expand its work globally, examining the composition of nonparent populations and changes across countries, with particular attention to how economic pressure, social policy, and cultural values affect reproductive intentions.
News | More Americans Choose Not to Become Parents: Share of Childfree Adults Doubles in 20 Years
News | More Americans Choose Not to Become Parents: Share of Childfree Adults Doubles in 20 Years
Attitudes toward having children are undergoing a profound shift in the United States.
Recent Pew Research Center data show that more Americans are reconsidering whether to become parents. A long-term Michigan State University study found that the proportion of nonparents choosing not to have children doubled over the past 20 years, from 14% in 2002 to 29% in 2023.
Meanwhile, the proportion of nonparents who intend to become parents fell sharply from 79% to 59%. Researchers say this is not a temporary change in social sentiment but a long-term trend spanning more than two decades.
Who Is Choosing Not to Become a Parent?
The study was led by Michigan State University psychology professors Jennifer Watling Neal and Zachary Neal and published in the Journal of Marriage and Family. They analyzed seven waves of the U.S. National Survey of Family Growth covering 80,000 adults from 2002 to 2023.
The study divided nonparents into three main groups:
Childfree: People who clearly state that they do not want children.
Childless: People who want children but cannot have them.
Not yet parents: People who currently have no children but plan to have them in the future.
Watling Neal said: “Previous studies using these data usually focused only on female fertility. For the first time, we considered the wishes of men and women regarding both biological and nonbiological children.” She emphasized that the study examines not only whether people can have children but whether they want them.
Zachary Neal added: “We had already observed rapid growth in Michigan’s childfree adult population. These national data further confirm that this is a widespread social trend across the United States.”
Parenthood Is Becoming Less Central, Not Simply Less Attainable
People who do not have children are often assumed to want them but be unable to have them. The study found that this childless group represents a very small share of nonparents and has remained relatively stable over time.
Instead, growth is driven by people who actively choose not to have children and clearly state that they do not intend to become parents.
Watling Neal noted: “This population is often overlooked in healthcare, financial services, and social systems. They need long-term contraception and retirement planning that does not depend on children, but current services often do not meet those needs.”
Next Steps: Global Trends and Economic and Political Factors
The research team plans to expand its work globally, examining the composition of nonparent populations and changes across countries, with particular attention to how economic pressure, social policy, and cultural values affect reproductive intentions.
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