According to a new UNFPA report, fewer people are having children due to financial struggles, insecure jobs, and limited support systems. The report highlights that many individuals, including in Nepal, are unable to start or grow their families because of rising living costs, lack of affordable childcare, and inadequate reproductive healthcare.

 Kathmandu, June 17 – Economic hardship, limited reproductive healthcare, and uncertain futures are stopping millions of people around the world – including in Nepal – from having the number of children they want, according to the UNFPA’s 2025 State of World Population report, “The Real Fertility Crisis: The Pursuit of Reproductive Agency in a Changing World.”

The report, based on global research and a UNFPA–YouGov survey in 14 countries, found that one in five people expect they won’t be able to have the number of children they desire. Major reasons include high living costs, unstable jobs, unaffordable housing and childcare, lack of reproductive health services, absent or unsupportive partners, and broader global issues like climate change and conflict.

In Nepal, although people still prefer larger families, the average number of children per woman has dropped to two. This is especially noticeable in urban areas like Bagmati and Gandaki, where rising expenses, job insecurity, labor migration, and poor childcare support make parenthood more difficult.

“People all over the world are unable to have the families they want,” said Won Young Hong, UNFPA Representative in Nepal. “The same is true for Nepal. Some are forced into parenthood while others are unable to become parents. This isn’t about overpopulation or falling birth rates—it’s about ensuring people have real choices in a supportive environment. Things like paid family leave, affordable healthcare, and supportive partners aren’t luxuries—they’re necessities.”

More than half of survey respondents globally pointed to economic pressure as the biggest barrier to having children. In Nepal, issues like rapid urbanization, job instability, high living expenses, and the lack of flexible workplace policies make it hard for young couples to plan a family.

The report also found that while 31% of people worldwide don’t reach their desired number of children, 12% end up having more than they planned—both showing how limited reproductive freedom affects family planning. In Nepal, this pattern varies: people in provinces like Bagmati tend to have fewer children than they want, while those in Madhesh often have more.

Gender inequality plays a major role in this crisis. Women continue to handle most caregiving duties, and men often face social stigma for taking part in parenting. The lack of supportive policies—like parental leave, affordable childcare, and flexible jobs—makes shared parenting difficult and limits choices for both men and women.

The report also highlights that declining birth rates aren’t just a “women’s issue.” Young men, especially those with less education or financial stability, are increasingly single and disconnected, which contributes to growing loneliness and tension in gender roles.

UN Resident Coordinator to Nepal, Hanaa Singer-Hamdy, said the focus needs to shift from worrying about fertility rates to giving people real choices. “People need economic security, rights-based policies, and the freedom to decide for themselves—not pressure or incentives.”

Health Ministry Secretary Dilliram Sharma stressed the need to remove barriers and uphold reproductive rights. Professor Dr. R.P. Bichha from the National Planning Commission emphasized that understanding population trends is key to building inclusive and effective national policies.

UNFPA warned against one-size-fits-all or coercive responses like setting fertility targets, offering cash for more children, or limiting reproductive rights. Instead, the report urges investment in reproductive health, family-friendly policies, gender equality, and education that supports informed choices.

With Nepal projected to have 1 in 5 people over 60 years old by 2071, the report calls for smart, inclusive planning to address the challenges of an aging population.

UNFPA reaffirmed its commitment to helping the Government of Nepal design data-driven, rights-based policies that support reproductive freedom and tap into the country’s full demographic potential.