In 2023, South Korea reported the lowest birth-rate in the world, a staggering rate of 0.78 babies per woman — meaning fewer than one child was born for every woman. This sharp decline highlights the demographic crisis that many industrialized countries are facing. In the US, birth rates have been plummeting since the Great Recession in 2007, and have been declining since, reaching about 1.6 in 2023 — well below the 2.1 replacement rate needed to sustain the population. Low birth rates, combined with demands of an aging population, pose challenges to sustaining welfare systems, such as social security, and driving economic growth. As economic and educational opportunities expand, the demands posed by this new modern-day lifestyle have disrupted traditional family dynamics, placing new strains on parents that clash with conventional ideals of child-rearing, leading them to delay or forgo having children.
The rise in socioeconomic opportunities has had a significant impact on women. For the first time, more women in the US are earning college degrees and entering the workforce than men. Many women delay family planning, focusing on career development and financial stability. In fact, the highest US birth rate was recorded among women aged 30 to 34 in 2023, surpassing all other age groups. However, birth rates are declining across all age groups, likely due to lack of adequate support for pregnant women and new mothers. As of 2024, only 13 states have passed laws to create paid family and medical leave programs. Even among those states, awareness of leave is low and unevenly distributed among parents. Compared to industrialized countries, the US has some of the shortest medical leave with the least benefits. These factors may encourage women to delay pregnancy or deter them from having children.
Additionally, pregnancy has many implications upon returning to work, often referred to as “maternity policy.” Mothers are less likely to be perceived as fit for leadership positions and receive fewer promotional opportunities than their childless counterparts. They also often face wage penalties, known as the “maternity wage gap” — according to census data, employed mothers earn only $0.69 for every dollar that fathers earn. Moreover, studies have found that pregnant women and mothers are seen as less hireable compared to their childless counterparts and fathers. Alongside these structural barriers, working mothers also encounter interpersonal challenges in the workplace. Many women report discriminatory experiences, such as their pregnancy and bodily needs — like morning sickness — being labeled as “self-inflicted illnesses,” which leads to perceptions of incompetence. Consequently, it is increasingly difficult for pregnant women and mothers to secure jobs, while facing significant obstacles in career advancement in the workplace.
Due to shifting trends in gender roles, women have transitioned from being dependent on their partners to becoming workers; however, their role as primary caregivers has not yet changed. The Pew Research Center found that women must adjust their careers and responsibilities for daily life more than men. The additional stress of bearing children and unequal distribution of responsibilities in a relationship can also discourage women from having children. Furthermore, in households with two working parents, the absence of a dedicated caregiver for the child presents additional challenges. The cost of childcare significantly influences a family’s decision to have children. With rising living costs, the Institute for Family Studies estimates that the total cost of raising a child ranges from $202,248 to $430,928. For many Americans, these expenses are not feasible.
We have gone from experiencing the baby boom to entering an era of the baby bust. As workplace inequities persist and the cost of raising children surges, birth rates are likely to plunge further. It is critical to reshape society’s structure to support motherhood through improved maternal leave policies, addressing maternal discrimination, and promoting co-parenting. If we fail to make these essential changes, the future of family life may not just struggle; it could very well disappear into the void.
“We have gone from experiencing the baby boom to entering an era of the baby bust.”
