Effects of A Childless Legacy

As the growing number of childless couples increases, what are the cascading effects upon the global population?

Lessoning Progenitors

Grandparents cherish the birth of a new life that holds the promise of an enduring legacy. Parents marvel at the capability to nurture the same. Indeed, pregnancy and birth brings great responsibility. But traditionally held beliefs regarding the role of progenitor is changing.

Both men and women battle for academic and professional success, leaving little time for raising a family. More than 18 methods of birth control are available to suppress the incidence of pregnancy. Hashtags for childless choice include #childfreebychoice #nothavingkids and #childfreemillennial.

Family and consumer sciences (FCS) classes in the United States, once known as “home economics,” teach students the basics of household maintenance and cooking. Though FCS courses haven’t gone away entirely, their presence in schools is tapering. There was a 38 percent reduction from 2002 and 2012. The focus on women maintaining a household—including childrearing—is diminishing.

The effects of childless couples can vary, depending on the situation. Studies have shown that childlessness can lead to feelings of loneliness and depression. A counter culture rebuffs the notion that childless couples have more difficulty finding purpose and fulfillment in life. Research has also shown that having children can lead to better mental and physical health outcomes. Obviously, this is not the case with everyone.

The United Nations predicts the current population of about 8 billion could grow to about 8.5 billion by 2030, before peaking at 10.4 billion during the 2080s. Predictions become bleak afterward when the world’s population starts to fall—and some portend it will happen decades and years earlier.

For the first time in 60 years, China’s National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) announced that the country’s population fell in 2022 decreased by about 850,000 people from the previous year. What are the effects of a dwindling population?

Offspring Depreciation Effects

A population decrease can have several negative effects. Economic and social pressures increase. It can result in a smaller workforce, which leads to labor shortages or an inability to fulfill the demands of a growing economy. Additionally, we can expect a lack of resources, including access to healthcare and educational opportunities. A shrinking population may have significant long-term negative implications for a country’s future fertility rate.

China’s shrinking labor force and downturn in manufacturing heft will further exacerbate high prices and high inflation in the United States and Europe.