A new study out of the University of New Hampshire shows a major change in American family life. As of last year, 23.1 million women between 20 and 39 have no children. That is more than half of women in their main childbearing years.
Researcher Kenneth Johnson, who examined U.S. Census Bureau data along with birth records from the National Center for Health Statistics, says the total is 5.7 million higher than expected if past trends had held.
Over time, the gap has widened. Between 2007 and 2024, the United States recorded 11.8 million fewer births than expected. That drop happened even as the number of women in their twenties and thirties grew by about ten percent.
How the Numbers Changed
Back in 2006, before the recession, more women in their twenties had started families. By 2024, the picture was very different.
- In 2006, about one in three women in their twenties had no children.
- By 2024, the share of women under 30 with no children had jumped.
- Women in their thirties showed only small changes, and women aged 35 to 49 saw a slight increase in births.
The rise in childlessness is sharpest among younger women. Older women having more children later in life has not been enough to close the gap.
The Cost of Raising a Family
Money is one of the main reasons behind the shift. Housing is expensive, child care often costs as much as rent, and health care bills keep climbing. Paid family leave is rare, so many families face tough choices about work and parenting.
College and careers also play a role. More women are staying in school longer and entering full-time careers before thinking about children. Student debt adds another layer of pressure. Many women reach their thirties still trying to get stable before deciding on family life.
Why Gen Z Is Not Having Kids
Gen Z is having fewer children, and the numbers make that clear.
The Main Reasons Gen Z Is Delaying or Avoiding Parenthood
Pew Research survey asked young adults why they are not planning to have children. The most common answers were:
- High cost of raising children – 56% pointed to money as the biggest obstacle.
- Desire for personal freedom – 43% said they want to maintain independence.
- Concerns about climate change and the future – 36% cited worries about stability.
- Unstable relationships or fewer marriages – 32% said they lack the foundation for family life.
Comparison of Different Generations
| Generation | Birth Rate Ages 20-24 (per 1,000) | Average Age at First Birth |
|---|---|---|
| Baby Boomers (1970s) | 168.7 | 21.4 years |
| Millennials (2000s) | 105.2 | 25.4 years |
| Gen Z (2020s) | 55.1 | 27.3 years |
Celebrities With No Kids and Their Impact on Society
Famous people who decided not to have kids have influenced how the public thinks about family and success.
| Oprah Winfrey | Television | Focused on career and philanthropy instead of raising children |
| Helen Mirren | Acting | Said she “never had the maternal instinct” and felt no regret |
| Ricky Gervais | Comedy | Values freedom and never wanted kids |
| Dolly Parton | Music | Explained that her demanding career and personal choice led her and her husband not to have children |
Women Without Kids by Ruby Warrington – What Does The Book Miss?
Ruby Warrington’s Women Without Kids is a book that speaks to women who choose not to have children. She says it can mean more freedom, more time for careers, and less pressure to follow old rules about motherhood.
Many readers connect with that message, especially younger women facing debt, high rent, and unstable jobs.
But the book has a blind spot.
Since 2007, the United States has seen about 11.8 million fewer births than experts expected. That drop is already closing schools, shrinking the workforce, and adding strain to programs like Social Security.
When a book highlights independence as the main goal, it can make the larger problem worse. Warrington is right that women without kids deserve respect and should not be seen as selfish. The problem is that her book does not deal with what happens when millions of women make the same choice at once.
That is where the personal story turns into a national issue, and where the debate really begins.
Last Words
Families are changing, and the country has to deal with it. The cost of living keeps people from starting families, and politicians keep kicking the can down the road. Unless there’s real action on housing, child care, and wages, this story will only get bigger.