Economic Stress Leads to Decline in U.S. Birth Rates
Americans may go extinct in the coming years if the pressing economic issues continue.
Although most Americans choose to have kids and raise them as capable citizens, records show there is a steady decline in the birth rates annually in the country. According to the latest Gallup survey, economic stress is the main reason for this alarming trend.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that the U.S. fertility dropped to an all-time low in 2011 with only 63.2 births recorded in every 1,000 women compared to 70.9 newborns in 1990. The American attitude for having a baby has not changed much for over 20 years. In 1990, only 4 percent Americans said they did not like to have kids. The recent survey shows that only 5 percent of the population do not prefer to have kids. Nine out of 10 adults either have kids or plan to have one.
More than 5,000 adult Americans were asked about the reason behind the falling birth rates in America between Aug. 22 and 31. Many of the respondents believed that financial woes are the main reasons couples postpone to have children. About 65 percent of them thought they do not have enough finances to bear the cost of raising kids. While 11 percent of them cited that the present economic conditions and lack of job opportunities are the other reasons.
For Gallup officials, they believe America has to improve its economic situation to encourage more adult Americans to have kids. They noted the desire for having children is likely to develop more once the financial situation gets better.