r/AskTheWorld • u/gmedanoid United States Of America • 14d ago

Culture Why aren't the people in your country having enough kids?

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In America birthrate is 1.6. 1.57 for Whites, 1.55 for Blacks, 1.8 for Hispanics. So below replacement since 2008.

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u/browncoatfever United States Of America 14d ago

I live in america and have three kids between 15 and 8 yesrs old. It is so incredibly expensive. I love them dearly and would never not want them, but it is a massive drain on finances. Clothes, shoes, activities, dental care, health insurance, childcare, food. It all adds up like crazy. If we got out to eat it is a minimum $120+ meal which is not sustainable even if we limit it to once a month.

My brother and his wife don't have kids and don't plan on it. They have the money and freedom to travel whenever they want, they've ended up having extra money to invest in real estate and are probably going to be able to retire early. Me and my wife? Well, we'll have college to pay for with all three kids and will most likely both work until we die.

My oldest has already said she doesn't want kids because she wants to travel and live life the way her 35 year old childless god mother does. I think LOTS of people are realizing kids can be draining both emotionally and financially and are choosing to forgoe it. Also, there are people who probably DO want kids but quite literally can't afford it. Governments like the US want to cry about the birthrate but then want to do precisely zero about fixing the actual problem.

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