Economic hardship, unemployment and housing challenges are preventing many young people around the world from starting families despite their strong desire for marriage and parenthood, according to a new report released on Tuesday by the United Nations Population Fund. The findings, contained in the Demographic Futures Survey, reveal that financial insecurity remains the greatest obstacle to family formation among young adults.
The survey, regarded as one of the largest global studies on the subject, sampled more than 108,000 internet connected adults between the ages of 18 and 39 across 73 countries and territories. It found that contrary to popular assumptions, younger generations have not abandoned the desire for marriage or raising children. Instead, economic realities, unstable employment and limited access to affordable housing are forcing many to delay those aspirations.
UNFPA Executive Director, Diene Keita, said young people remain hopeful about their future and have a clear vision of the families they hope to build. She stressed that removing financial barriers and empowering young people to make informed life choices would help create stronger families and more resilient societies. The report further revealed that more than two thirds of respondents wanted to marry or live with a partner, while nearly 80 per cent considered having a stable relationship essential before becoming parents.
According to the survey, 57 per cent of respondents identified financial and housing constraints as the biggest barriers to marriage or stable cohabitation. It also found that financial security, stable employment and emotional readiness ranked as the most important conditions for having children. Echoing the findings, a young woman from India said raising a child should be a shared responsibility supported by emotional and financial stability, while a respondent from Paraguay noted that bringing a child into the world is only the beginning, with the greater challenge being the responsibility of raising one.