Experiences of adults without children in the US

57% of adults under 50 who say they are unlikely to ever have children say the main reason is that they simply don't want to; 31% of those 50 and over without children say this as the reason they never had them

The US fertility rate hit an all-time low in 2023with one a growing proportion of women aged 25 to 44 who have never given birth.

And the share of American adults under 50 without children who say they are it is unlikely that she will ever have children increased by 10 percentage points between 2018 and 2023 (from 37% to 47%), according to a Pew Research Center survey.

In this report, we explore the experiences of two groups of US adults:

• Those aged 50 and over who do not have children
• Those under 50 who do not have children and say they are unlikely to have children in the future

About four in ten older adults (38%) say there was a time when they wanted to have children. A smaller but significant proportion (32%) say they have never wanted children, and 25% say they weren't sure one way or the other. Few say they often felt pressure to have children from family, friends or society in general.

Reasons for not having children, or never having children, differ between older and younger groups. The main answer for those over 50 is that it just didn't happen. Meanwhile, those in the younger group are more likely to say they simply don't want to have children. Women under 50 are particularly likely to say they simply don't want to have children (64% versus 50% of men in this group).

Majorities in both groups say that not having children has made it easier for them to be able to afford the things they want, have time for hobbies and interests, and save for the future. In the younger group, about six in ten also say that not having children has made it easier for them to succeed in their work or career and to have an active social life.

Still, say the majorities of both groups parents have it easier when it comes to having someone to care for them as they age. A large proportion of both groups say that having a full life has little to do with whether or not someone has children.

Those are among the key findings of a new Pew Research Center survey of 2,542 adults age 50 and older who don't have children and 770 adults ages 18 to 49 who don't have children and say they're not very or not likely to . have them The survey was conducted from April 29 to May 19, 2024.

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Reasons for not having children

The study explores the reasons American adults give for not having children, ranging from those 50 and older who have never had children to those under 50 who say they are unlikely to ever become parents.

By margins of at least 10 points, those in the younger group are more likely than those 50 and older to say that each of the following is a major reason:

• They simply do not want to have children (57% in the younger group vs. 31% in the older group)
• They want to focus on other things, such as their career or interests (44% vs. 21%)
• Concerns about the state of the world, other than the environment (38% vs. 13%)
• They cannot afford to raise a child (36% vs. 12%)
• Concerns about the environment, including climate change (26% vs. 6%)
• They don't like children very much (20% vs. 8%)

In turn, a greater proportion of people in the older group say that one of the main reasons they did not have children is that they did not find the right partner (33% compared to 24% of those in the younger group).

There are no significant differences between the two groups in the shares that point to infertility or other medical reasons (own or of their spouse or partner) or a spouse or partner who did not want to have children as the main reasons.

Among those in their 40s, 22% say infertility or other medical reasons are a big factor in why they are unlikely to have children. Around one in ten 18-39 year olds (9%) say the same.

The impact of not having children

The majority of adults 50 and older who do not have children and those under 50 who say they are unlikely to do so see some advantages to not having children.

But by margins ranging from 17 to 23 points, those in the younger group are more likely than those 50 and older to say that each of the following has been easier for them because they have no children:

• Having time for hobbies and interests (80% in the younger group vs. 57% in the older group)
• The things they want are offered (79% vs. 61%)
• Saving for the future (75% vs. 57%)
• Being successful in their job or career (61% vs. 44%, among those who do not indicate, does not apply to them)
• Have an active social life (58 vs. 36%)

The impact at work

We also asked working people about the impact that not having children has had on their working life.

Experiences are mixed. For example, 45% of the youngest and 35% of the oldest say they've had more opportunities to connect outside of work because they don't have children. Meanwhile, about a third of each group say they were expected to take on extra jobs or responsibilities, and many also say they've been given less flexibility than those with children.

Worries about the future

The survey also asked adults 50 and older without children about certain concerns they may have as they age.

Around one in five or more say they are worried a lot or very often About:

• Having enough money (35%)
• Having someone to look after them (26%)
• Being alone (19%)

A smaller proportion (11%) say they often worry about having someone to uphold their values ​​and traditions when they are not.

In a separate survey46% of parents from 50 years said they often worry about having enough money as they get older. Smaller shares said the same about having someone who will care for them as they age (20%), having someone who will uphold their values ​​and traditions (17%), and feeling lonely as they age (15%).

How survey results differ (or not) by gender

Mostly the experiences of childless adults and the reasons they give for not having them they do not vary much by gender. This is the case for both age groups.

Still, there are some questions on which men and women without children differ considerably.

Among those aged 50 and over, women are more likely than men to say:

• Being successful in their job or career has been easier because they do not have children (50% among women vs. 39% among men).
• They felt pressure to have children from society at large at least sometimes when they were younger (42% vs. 27%).

Between the ages of 18 and 49, women are more likely than men to say that each of the following is a top reason why they are unlikely to have children:

• They just don't want to (64% vs. 50%)
• Negative experiences with their own growing families (22% vs. 13%)

Women in the younger group are also more likely than their male counterparts to say that the topic of whether they will have children comes up in conversations with their friends at least sometimes (41% vs. 26%).

Demographic and economic differences between adults aged 50 and over with and without children

In addition to the survey findings, this report includes an analysis of government data to show how the demographic characteristics and economic outcomes of adults 50 and older who do not have children differ from those 50 and older who are parents .

Among adults in this age group, those without children are less likely to have ever been married. They are month likely to have a high school diploma or more. This difference in educational attainment is particularly pronounced among women.

Older women without children have a higher average monthly salary than mothers. The opposite happens among older men; those without children tend to earn less than fathers.