2026年人口未来调查报告

Lives,

ChoicesandFutures

Whatyoung

peoplewant

andwhat

shapestheir

decisionsaboutrelationships

andparenthood

Findingsfromthe

DemographicFuturesSurvey2026

UnitedNationsPopulationFund

Acknowledgements

Authors:PriscillaIdele(UNFPA),ElizabethWilkins(UNFPA),AlessioCangiano(UNFPA),ArnsteinAassve(BocconiUniversity),ElisaLatora(BocconiUniversity)andLucaDiCasola(BocconiUniversity)

Contributors:LetiziaMencarini,ChenPeng,SamuelPlach(BocconiUniversity),DerrickDemeveng,LindsayKatzandHuiyongKim(UNFPA)

LeadTechnicalAdvisers:PriscillaIdele,AlessioCangianoandElizabethWilkins(UNFPA)

ExternalAdvisers:ArnsteinAassveandLetiziaMencarini(BocconiUniversity)

StrategicOversight:PriscillaIdele(UNFPA)

ExpertAdvisoryCommitteeandReviewers:JuliaBunting,JennieGreaney,SandraTumwesigye

(UNFPA),NurudeenAlhassan(AfricanInstituteforDevelopmentPolicy),EvaBeaujouan(Universityof

Vienna),AliceCheng(AcademiaSinica),NaaDodoo(AfricanInstituteforDevelopmentPolicy),Anne

Gauthier(NetherlandsInterdisciplinaryDemographicInstitute,UniversityofGroningen),ReikoHayashi

(JapaneseNationalInstituteofPopulationandSocialSecurityResearch),ApoorvaJadhav(Population

ReferenceBureau),EsterLazzari(UniversityofVienna),LiviaMontana(UniversityofSouthernCalifornia),MonikaMynarska(CardinalStefanWyszynskiUniversity),IgnacioPardo(UniversidadDeLaRepública),

TomasSobotka(ViennaInstituteofDemography,AustrianAcademyofSciences),NahlaTawab(PopulationCouncil)andLauraWronski(Google)

DataCollection:KantarLightspeedandGeoPoll

Editorial:DavidMountain(Scriptoria)

Design:UpasanaYoung(GlowDesign)

Communications,AdvocacyandWebDesign:EnesChampo,JacquelineDaldin,SelindeDulckeit,AnnaJefferys,HannoRanckandRebeccaZerzan(UNFPA)

OperationsandAdministrativeSupport:ElsaDufay,TruphenaKiokoandPamellaNjeru(UNFPA)

FundingfortheDemographicFuturesSurveywasgenerouslyprovidedbytheGatesFoundation,

theMinistryofDataandStatisticsoftheRepublicofKorea,andtheChildrenandFamiliesAgency,GovernmentofJapan.

Copyright©2026UnitedNationsPopulationFund

Coverphoto©UNFPAIndonesia

Howtocitethispublication:UnitedNationsPopulationFund,2026.Lives,ChoicesandFutures:What

YoungPeopleWantandWhatShapestheirDecisionsaboutRelationshipsandParenthood–FindingsfromtheDemographicFuturesSurvey2026.NewYork:UNFPA.

Disclaimer:Theviewsandopinionsexpressedinthispublicationarethoseoftheauthorsanddonotnecessarilyreflecttheviewsorpositionsofanyentitiestheyrepresent.

WHATYOUNGPEOPLEWANTANDWHATSHAPESTHEIR3DECISIONSABOUTRELATIONSHIPSANDPARENTHOOD

Tableofcontents

Foreword

07

Executivesummary

08

Keyfindingsofthesurvey

09

Lifegoals,futureoutlookandsocialmedia

09

Partnershipsandrelationships

09

Parenthoodaspirationsandrealities

10

Chapter1:Introduction

11

EvidencefrompreviousUNFPAresearch

12

TheDemographicFuturesSurvey

13

Thisreport

15

Chapter2:Methodologyoverview

17

Listofc

ountriesandterritoriesinwhichtheDemographicFuturesSurvey18

wasconducted

Chapter3:Lifegoals,futureoutlookandInternetandsocialmediause

21

Lifegoals

22

Feelingsaboutthefuture

23

Whatworriesyoungpeople? 24

Howyoungpeopleperceiveopportunitiesandinequalities 27

Socialmediause

30

4LIVES,CHOICESANDFUTURES

Chapter4:Formingpartnershipsandstartingfamilylife

35

Attitudestowardsfamilysituations

36

Partnershipandlivingarrangements

40

Idealversusactualpartnershipandlivingarrangements

41

Partnershipaspirationsandcurrentrelationshipstatus

44

Howpeoplemettheircurrentpartner

47

Howyoungpeoplearelookingtomeetpartners

49

Motivationsforpartnership

50

Barrierstopartnership

51

Chapter5:Parenthoodaspirationsandrealities

53

Lifetimefertilityideals

54

Reportedfertilityidealsandachievedfamilysize

57

Parentalstatusandaspirationsamongadultssurveyedaged35–39

59

Preconditionsforparenthood

62

Motivationsforparenthood

63

Barrierstoparenthood

65

Chapter6:Conclusion

67

Manyyoungpeoplewantpartnerships,butaspirationandcircumstances 69

donotalwaysalign

Youngpeoplewantfamilies,butconditionsmatter

69

Optimismcoexistswithworriesaboutthefuture

71

Gendernormscontinuetoshapefamilylife

71

Whereyoungpeopleliveandtheirsocialstatusshapethetransition 72

toadulthood

Areasforpolicyconsideration

72

Methodologicalannex

74

A1.Surveydesignandscope

74

Datacollection

76

Pilotingandqualityassurance

76

A2.Sample

77

Representativeness

78

A3.Post-stratificationweighting 79

Populationtargets

79

Weightconstruction

79

Respondentsoutsidethescopeofweightedanalysis

79

Endnotes

80

WHATYOUNGPEOPLEWANTANDWHATSHAPESTHEIR5DECISIONSABOUTRELATIONSHIPSANDPARENTHOOD

Listoffigures

Figure3.1Percentageofrespondentsbyperceivedimportanceofkeylifegoals 22.

Figure3.2Percentageofrespondentsbyextenttowhichtheyfeelpositiveaboutthefuture,byregionalgrouping 23

andcountryincomegroup

Figure3.3Percentageofrespondentsbylevelsofworryaboutselectedfactors 24

Figure3.4Percentageofrespondentsveryworriedaboutalltopthreeglobalconcerns(bars)andwhofeelpositive 26

orverypositiveaboutthefuture(dots)

Figure3.5Percentageofrespondentsbyperceptionsofopportunities,inequalitiesandsupportsystems 27

Figure3.6Percentageofrespondentsbyextentofagreementwiththestatement,“Youngpeoplelikemehavealot 28

ofopportunitiesinlife,”byregionalgroupingandcountryincomegroup

Figure3.7Percentageofrespondentsbyextentofagreementwiththestatement,“Therearealotofinequalities 29

betweenyoungpeopleinthecountrywhereIlive,”byregionalgroupingandcountryincomegroup

Figure3.8PercentageofrespondentsbytimespentonsocialmediaortheInternetdailyforvariouspurposes 30

Figure3.9PercentageofrespondentsbytimespentonsocialmediaortheInternetdailyforvariouspurposes,by 32

regionalgroupingandcountryincomegroup

Figure4.1Percentageofrespondents,ofbothsexes,approvingordisapprovingselectedsituationsinvolving 36

awomanoraman

Figure4.2Percentageofrespondentswhodisapproveofawoman:(a)choosingnevertohavechildren;and 37

(b)gettingdivorcedwhilehavingchildrenagedunder12

Figure4.3Percentageofrespondentsofbothsexes,approvingordisapprovingofselectedfamily-and 38

work-relatedsituationsinvolvingawomanoraman,bysex,regionalgroupingandcountryincomegroup

Figure4.4Percentageofrespondentsbycurrentrelationshipandlivingarrangement,byregionalgroupingand 40

countryincomegroup

Figure4.5Percentageofrespondentsbypreferredrelationshipandlivingarrangement,byregionalgrouping 42

andcountryincomegroup

Figure4.6Percentageofrespondentsaged25–39yearswhoaresingleandnotdatingandideallywantapartner, 45

bysex,regionalgroupingandcountryincomegroup

Figure4.7Percentageofrespondentsaged25–39yearsandcurrentlydatingorinanon-cohabitingrelationshipwho 46

wanttomarryorlivewithapartner,bysex,regionalgroupingandcountryincomegroup

Figure4.8Percentageofrespondentsbyhowtheymettheircurrentpartner 47

Figure4.9Percentageofrespondentsbyhowtheyarelookingtomeetanewpartner 49

Figure4.10Percentageofrespondentsbytheperceivedimportanceofvariousreasonsforpartnership 50

Figure4.11Percentageofrespondentsbytheperceivedimportanceofvariousbarrierstopartnership 51

Figure5.1Percentageofrespondentsbyidealnumberofchildren,byregionalgroupingandcountryincomegroup 54

Figure5.2Meanidealnumberofchildrenamongrespondents,byregionalgrouping,countryincomegroupandsex 55

Figure5.3Meanidealnumberofchildrenamongrespondents,byregionalgrouping,countryincomegroupandagegroup 55

Figure5.4Meanidealnumberofchildrenamongrespondentsaged18–39andmeanactualnumberofchildrenfor 57

respondentsaged35–39yearsamongfemales(leftpanel)andmales(rightpanel),byregionalgrouping

andcountryincomegroup

Figure5.5Meanidealandmeanactualnumberofchildrenatages18–39andmeanactualnumberofchildren 58

atages35–39amongrespondentsbycountryandsex(leftpanel–females;rightpanel–males)

Figure5.6Percentageofrespondentsaged35–39withnochildrenwhowouldideallyliketohavechildren,bysex(left 60

panel–females;rightpanel–males),regionalgroupingandcountryincomegroup

Figure5.7Percentageofrespondentsaged35–39withnochildrenwhowouldideallyliketohavechildren,bycountry 61

Figure5.8Percentageofrespondentsbytheperceivedimportanceofvariouspreconditionsforparenthood 62

Figure5.9Percentageofrespondentsbytheperceivedimportanceofvariousreasonsforparenthood 63

Figure5.10Proportionofrespondentsratingmotivationsforparenthoodas“veryimportant,”bymotivationcluster 64

Figure5.11Percentageofrespondentsbytheperceivedimportanceofvariousbarrierstoparenthood 65

Listoftables

TableA1CountriesandterritoriesincludedintheDemographicFuturesSurvey,byregionalgroupings 74

TableA2CountriesandterritoriesincludedintheDemographicFuturesSurvey,byincomegroup 74

TableA3DemographicFuturesSurveyitemsdrawnfromexistingdatasources 75

TableA4Datacollectionbyprovider 76

TableA5Samplesizebycountryandterritory 77

TableA6Samplecompositionbyregionalgrouping,incomegrouping,sex,age,educationandplaceofresidence 78

TableA7Weightingapproachbycountryandterritory 79

LIVES,FUTURES

©UNFPAAlbania/Fondacioni_SeBashku

WHATYOUNGPEOPLEWANTANDWHATSHAPESTHEIR7DECISIONSABOUTRELATIONSHIPSANDPARENTHOOD

Foreword

Acrosstheworld,youngpeopleaspireto

meaningfulfutures,fulfillingrelationshipsand,formany,families.Yetmanyaremakinglife’sbiggestdecisionsamidgrowinguncertainty.Risinghousingcosts,economicinsecurity,conflict,inequalityandrapidtechnologicalchangeareshapinghowtheyimagineandplanfortheirfutures.

Drawingonthevoicesofmorethan108,000

Internet-connectedyoungadultsaged18–39

yearsacross73countriesandterritories,the

UNFPADemographicFuturesSurveyisoneof

thelargestglobalstudiesofitskind.Itrevealsaclearandconsistentfinding:manyyoungpeoplecontinuetoaspiretorelationships,marriageandparenthood.Thequestionisnotwhetheryoungpeoplevaluetheselifegoals,butwhethertheyhavetheconditionstorealizethem.Financial

security,stableemployment,affordablehousingandsupportallmatter.

Thefindingspointtoagapbetweenaspirations

andperceivedopportunities.Theyinviteustolookbeyonddemographictrendstotheconditions

thatshapeyoungpeople'schoices:economic

opportunities,employmentsecurity,affordable

housing,accessiblechildcare,gender-equitable

parentalleave,flexibleworkingarrangements

andgenderequalitymorebroadly.Whenthese

conditionsareinplace,youngpeoplearebetter

abletobuildthelivestheywantandhavethe

childrentheywant,whentheywantthem.By

enablingyoungpeopletomakefreeandinformedchoicesabouttheirrelationships,familiesand

futures,weinvestnotonlyinindividualdignity,butinstronger,moreresilientsocieties.

UNFPA’srights-basedapproachtodemographic

policyseesdemographicoutcomesthrough

thelensofindividualagency,choiceandthe

conditionsthatenablepeopletorealizethefuturestheydesire.Youngpeople’sdecisionsreflect

boththeirownaspirationsandtheopportunitiesavailabletothem.

Ultimately,thisreportisastoryofhope.Many

respondentsreportfeelingpositiveaboutthe

future,evenastheyacknowledgesignificant

concernsandconstraints.Theyimaginelives

builtonsecurity,connectionandpurpose.The

choicesyoungpeoplemaketodaywillshapethedemographic,socialandeconomicfutureofour

societies.Ourroleisnottomakethosechoices

foryoungpeople,buttohelpensuretheyhave

theagency,freedom,opportunitiesandsupporttomakethemforthemselves.

DieneKeita

UnitedNationsUnder-Secretary-GeneralandExecutiveDirector

UnitedNationsPopulationFund(UNFPA)

Executivesummary

Acrossmuchoftheworld,partnershipformationisoccurringlater,marriagerateshavedeclinedandfertilityhasfallentohistoricallylowlevels.

Twothirdsoftheworld’spopulationnowlivesin

countriesorareaswherethetotalfertilityrateis

below2.1childrenperwoman-thelevelcommonlyassociatedwiththepopulationsizeremaining

stableovertime.1Lowfertilityisnolongerconfinedtoanarrowsetofhigh-incomecountries;itisnow

evidentacrossawiderangeofcontexts,including

manymiddle-incomecountries,whilefertilityisalsodeclininginmanycountrieswherebirthratesremaincomparativelyhigh.Thesedemographicshiftshavebecomeanincreasinglyprominentfocusofpublic

debateandpolicydiscussions.

Whilescholarlyresearchhasgeneratedextensiveevidenceintothedeterminantsofpartnership

formation,marriageandchildbearing,andexistingsurveyinfrastructureshaveprovidedvaluable

insightsintorelatedissues,largelyinEuropean

contexts,UNFPAidentifiedaneedforcomparableevidencefromamuchbroaderrangeofcountries.

Toaddressthisgap,UNFPAconductedthe

DemographicFuturesSurvey,oneofthelargest

surveysofitskind,covering73countriesand

territoriesacrossallworldregions.Thesurvey

examinesyoungadults’aspirationsandexperiencesregardinglifegoals,partnershipsandparenthood,

withparticularattentiontothefactorsthatmay

facilitateorconstraintheirtransitionstoadulthood.

Drawingontheresponsesfrom108,926Internet-

connectedyoungadultsaged18-39years,

thesurveyprovidescomparativeevidenceon

respondents’aspirationsfortheirlives,aswellas

theconstraintstheyreportinachievingthem.The

findingsshowthatpartnershipsandhavingchildrenremainimportantaspirationsformanyyoungadults.Atthesametime,economicinsecurity,housing

constraintsanddifficultiesfindingasuitablepartnerareamongthefactorsmostfrequentlyratedas

importantbarrierstoachievingthem.

ThisreportpresentsthefirstdescriptiveanalysesoftheDemographicFuturesSurveydataand

highlightsfindingsfromselectedkeysurvey

questions.Itisintendedasastartingpointfor

morein-depthcomparativeanalysis.Itbuilds

onandisconsistentwithpreliminaryfindings

presentedinthe2025StateofWorldPopulationreport.Ultimately,itcontributestoagrowing

bodyofevidencethatshowsthatunderstandingandrespondingtodemographicchangerequiresattentionnotonlytodemographicoutcomes

themselves,butalsotothesocial,economicandinstitutionalconditionsthatenableindividualstorealizethefuturestheydesire.

▶Noteonmethodologyandinterpretation

ThisreportisbasedontheDemographicFuturesSurvey,whichcollecteddata

from108,926Internet-connectedyoungadultsaged18–39across73countries

andterritories.ItisimportanttonotethattheDemographicFuturesSurveyisnot

statisticallyrepresentativeofnationalpopulations.Whilethedatahavebeenweightedbysex,ageandeducationalattainment,theresultsarenotnationallyrepresentative

andshouldnotbeinterpretedaspopulation-levelestimates.Rather,theyprovide

comparativeinsightsintotheaspirations,perceptionsandreportedexperiencesofthesurveyedgroupacrossdiverseglobalcontexts.

8LIVES,CHOICESANDFUTURES

Keyfindings

Thekeyfindingspresentedbelowshouldbeinterpretedconsideringthesurveymethodologyandsampledesign.

Lifegoals,futureoutlook

andsocialmedia

▶Economicsecurityandbeing

fitandhealthyarethehighest-ratedlifegoals,witheachratedasimportantbyapproximately90percentofrespondents.

▶Overall,twothirdsofrespondentsreportfeelingsomewhatorvery

positiveaboutthefuture.The

proportionreportingthattheyfeelverypositivevariessubstantiallyacrossregionalgroupings,rangingfrom62percentinWestandCentralAfricato19percentinWesternEurope,

Australia,CanadaandtheUnitedStates.2

▶Conflictandsecurityrisks,

andeconomicinsecurityand

inequalityarethehighest-ratedconcernsaboutthefuture.Morethanthreequartersofrespondentsacrossthefullsamplerateeachassomewhatorveryworrying.Artificialintelligenceisthelowest-ratedconcernonaverage,althoughnearlyhalfofrespondentsstillrateitas

somewhatorveryworrying.

▶Morethan40percentof

respondentsreportspendingovertwohoursadayonsocialmediaortheInternetforentertainment,

makingitthemosttime-intensiveformofonlineactivityexamined.

▶RespondentsinEastandSouthernAfricaandLatinAmericareportthehighestlevelsofonline

engagement.

Partnershipsand

relationships

▶Marriageremainsacommonidealrelationshiparrangementamongsurveyedyoungadults.

Morethantwothirdsofrespondents

selectedanidealrelationshipandliving

arrangementthatincludesmarriage:36

percentbeforelivingtogether,and34percentafteraperiodofcohabitation.Sixteenpercentreportremainingsingleastheirpreferredlivingarrangement.

▶Amongrespondentsaged25–39whoideallywishtomarryorlivewithapartner,onequarterare

currentlysingleandnotdating.

Theproportionishigheramongmalerespondents(30percent)thanamongfemalerespondents(19percent).

▶Financialsecurityisthe

highest-ratedconsiderationforpartnershipformation,citedasimportantby81percentofrespondents.Economicandhousingconstraints3

constitutethemostcommonlyreportedcategoryofbarriertopartnership,ratedimportantby57percent.

▶Amongrespondentswhoarecurrently

seekingapartner,personalnetworks,schoolorworkenvironments,andonlineplatformsarethemost

commonlyreportedchannelsformeetingpotentialpartners,eachreportedbyapproximatelyonethirdof

respondents.

LIVES,

CHOICESAWNHATYODUNGPEOFPLEWUANTATNDWHUATSHARPESTEHEIRS9

DECISIONSABOUTRELATIONSHIPSANDPARENTHOOD

Parenthoodaspirationsandrealities

▶Acrossmostregionalgroupings,twochildrenisthemost

commonlyreportedidealfamilysize.LargeridealfamilysizesaremorecommoninWestandCentralAfricaandinEastandSouthernAfrica.Onaverage,malerespondentsreportahigheridealnumberofchildrenthanfemalerespondents.

▶Acrossallregionalgroupings,themeannumberofchildrenreported

byrespondentsaged35–39islowerthanthemeanidealnumberofchildrenreportedbyrespondentsaged18-39.

▶Amongrespondentsaged

35–39,theproportionwithno

childrenishighestinWesternEurope,Australia,CanadaandtheUnitedStates:49percent

amongmalerespondentsand41percentoffemalerespondents.Withinthisgroupwithoutchildren,73percentofmalesand62percentoffemalesreportthatthey

wouldideallyliketohavechildren.The

proportionofrespondentsaged35-39

withnochildrenissubstantiallylowerin

EastandSouthernAfrica(18percentformales,19percentforfemales)andWestandCentralAfrica(34percentformales,14percentforfemales),andinthese

regionalgroupingsalmostallrespondentsaged35-39withoutchildrenreportedthattheywouldideallyliketohavechildren.

▶Thehighest-rated

preconditionsforfeeling

readytobecomeaparent

arebeingfinanciallysecure(88percent),havingstableemployment(87percent)

andfeelingemotionally

ready(85percent).Onaverage,femalerespondentsrateeachofthe

preconditionsasmoreimportantthanmalerespondents.

▶Thejoyandhappinesschildrenbringisthehighest-rated

reasonforhavingchildren,

with80percentofrespondentsrating

itasimportant.Thispatternisobservedamongbothrespondentswithandwithoutchildren.Reasonsrelatedtogovernmentencouragementandcontributionstothefutureworkforceareamongthelowest-

ratedreasonsforhavingchildren.

▶Economicandhousing

constraints4constitutethe

highest-ratedbarrierto

havingchildren,with72percent

ofrespondentsratingthisasimportant.Lackofasuitablepartnerandhealthandreproductivefactorsarethenexthighest-ratedbarriers.

Takentogether,thefindingssuggestthatmany

respondents’aspirationsforpartnershipand

parenthoodarecloselylinkedtobroadereconomic,socialandpersonalcircumstances.Acrosscountriesandregionalgroupings,manyrespondentscontinuetovaluepartnershipandparenthood.Atthesame

time,manyreportthatfinancialandemploymentsecurity,stablehousingandemotionalreadinessareimportantpreconditionsforpursuingtheseaspirations.

Thefindingsunderscorethewiderconditionsthatshapeyoungpeople’schoices.Enhancingeconomicopportunities,employmentsecurity,affordable

housing,accessiblechildcareandgenderequalitycanhelpcreatetheconditionstosupportyoungpeople

tohavethenumberofchildrentheywant,whentheywantthem,andbuildthelivestheyaspiretolead.

SuchanapproachisconsistentwithUNFPA’srights-basedapproachtodemographicpolicythatcentres

individualagencyandrecognizesthesocial,economicandinstitutionalcontextsinwhichdecisionsabout

partnershipandparenthoodaremade.Thefindings

alsohelpidentifyareasforfurtherresearchandpolicydiscussion,includingeconomicandemployment

security,affordablehousing,genderequality,

reproductivehealthservices,workplaceandfamilysupport,andsocialprotectionsystems.

LIVES,CHOICESANDFUTURES

Chapter1

Introduction

LIVES,CHOICESANDFUTURES

Acrosstheworld,youngpeoplearemakingdecisionsaboutwhethertoformapartnership,whetherorwhentohavechildren,andhowtobuildthelivestheywant.Thesedecisionstakeplaceamidchangingeconomic,socialandpoliticalconditions.Youngpeopleare

navigatingacomplextransitiontoadulthoodshapedbyrisinghousingcosts,labour-marketinsecurity,

intergenerationalinequalities,digitalchangeand

concernsaboutconflict,climatechangeandpoliticalinstability.

Theseconditionsformpartofthecontextforsome

ofthemostsignificantdemographicchangesin

modernhistory.Acrossmuchoftheworld,partnershipformationisoccurringlater,marriagerateshave

declinedandfertilityhasfallentohistoricallylow

levels.Twothirdsoftheworld’spopulationnowlivesinacountryorareawherethetotalfertilityrateis

below2.1childrenperwoman5-thelevelcommonlyassociatedwiththepopulationsizeremainingstableovertime.Lowfertilityisnolongerconfinedtoa

relativelysmallgroupofhigh-incomecountries.Itisnowevidentacrossawiderangeofsettings,includingmanymiddle-incomecountries.6,7Thescaleand

speedofthesechangesareshapingpublicdiscourseandpolicyagendasaroundtheworld.

TheUNFPADemographicFuturesSurveyprovidesnewcomparativeevidenceonyoungpeople’slife

goalsandfutureoutlook,partnershipformation,andparenthoodaspirationsandexperiences.Thesurveyfindingssuggestaconsistentpattern:manyyoung

peoplebroadlyseeksecurity,partnership,family

andapositivefuture,whilealsoreportingbarriers

thattheyperceiveasimportantinpursuingthese

aspirations.Understandingtheseaspirationsand

constraintsisessentialtoinformingpolicydiscussionsgroundedinevidence,rightsandchoices.

Evidencefromprevious

UNFPAresearch

TheUNFPA2025StateofWorldPopulationreporttookanimportantsteptowardsgeneratingnew

evidenceonshiftingfertilityandfamilyaspirations.

Drawingonsurveydatafromadultsaged18-88in14countries,itshowedthatmanypeopleareunabletorealizetheirreproductiveintentions-whether

thatmeanshavingmorechildren,fewerchildren,orhavingchildrenatthetimetheywouldprefer.

Reproductiveoutcomes,thereportfound,often

reflectnotfreechoicebutconstraints:economic

insecurity,partnershipinstability,inadequateaccesstoreproductivehealthservicesandtheunequal

distributionofcareresponsibilities.Inturn,the

12LIVES,CHOICESANDFUTURES

WHATYOUNGPEOPLEWANTANDWHATSHAPESTHEIR13DECISIONSABOUTRELATIONSHIPSANDPARENTHOOD

©UNFPALebanon/DavidBrunetti

reportpointedtotheimportanceofunderstandingdemographicchangethrougharights-basedlensthatcentresreproductiveagency,livedexperienceandtheconditionsthateitherenableorpreventthechoicespeoplewanttomake.

Thepresentreportbuildsdirectlyonthisfoundation.The2025StateofWorldPopulationsurveyfocusedprimarilyonfertilityoutcomesandcoveredthefull

adultpopulation.Tounderstandhowr