CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Not only are couples in the United States waiting longer to have kids, they're also having fewer kids.
Right now, the country is experiencing record low rates of childbirth.
The Wall Street Journal reports the biggest reason for the decline is simple: growing expenses. Child care for a single child has quadrupled since 1995.
A Pew Research Center study in 2021 found only about half all adults under the age of 50 said they would likely have kids. Another survey in 2022 found people want close to three children on average.
The actual rate of childbirth was down to 1.8 children per family by 1980, according to Gallup.
Millennials and Gen Zers are having fewer children than older generations, with nearly 10% saying they don't want kids. Others cited political affairs and saving for a house as reasons to wait.
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