Who’s Having Kids—And Who’s Running Out of Time

Birth rates, migration, and the forces shaping tomorrow’s world.

Author

Philip Saparov
August 23, 2025

In partnership with

Greetings, ever-curious cartographer of the human future,

Birth rates are plunging. Some nations are booming. Others are fading fast. The outcome? A reshaping of the world’s workforce, economies, and even power balance.

Today’s edition maps the fertility frontier—who’s surging, who’s stalling, and what it all means for your future moves, investments, and opportunities.

Let’s dive in.

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From 🇯🇵 Tokyo to 🇨🇦 Toronto, babies are becoming rare.

Fertility rates—defined as the average number of children a woman has—are dropping nearly everywhere. The global average? Just 2.3, down from 5.0 in 1950. Wealthier nations have seen the steepest declines, driven by rising education, urbanization, and the rising costs of housing and childcare.

🇰🇷 South Korea has the lowest fertility rate in the world at just 0.72.
🇮🇹 Italy and 🇪🇸 Spain hover under 1.3.
🇯🇵 Japan, famously aging, recently recorded its lowest number of births since records began.

To maintain population levels, countries need a fertility rate of 2.1. Today, over 70 countries fall below that threshold.

🔎 Unexpected reality: Japan now sells more adult diapers than baby ones—proof that population aging isn’t theoretical. It’s here.

Not all countries are shrinking. In parts of Africa and the Middle East, birth rates are booming.

🇳🇬 Nigeria, with a fertility rate of 5.1, is projected to become the world’s third most populous country by 2100.
🇹🇿 Tanzania and 🇨🇩 DR Congo both have youthful populations where more than half of citizens are under 18.
🇮🇱 Israel is an outlier among developed nations, maintaining a rate of 3.0, thanks to cultural norms and robust support for families.

High-fertility countries are shaping the workforce of tomorrow. As Western nations gray, these youthful populations could power global labor, consumption, and innovation.

🔎 Future shift: By 2100, over 1 in 3 people will live in Africa—up from just 1 in 6 today.

They’ve tried nearly everything—free childcare, long parental leaves, and even quirky ad campaigns. Still, fertility is sliding in the Nordics.

🇸🇪 Sweden dropped to 1.5 in 2023 despite generous family policies.
🇫🇮 Finland sits even lower at 1.3.
🇩🇰 Denmark famously launched “Do it for Denmark” tourism ads to promote procreation—but the bump was short-lived.

What’s going on? Analysts now believe culture and life pace outweigh government perks. Time pressure, career ambitions, and evolving family norms are taking the lead.

🔎 Revealing detail: A 2023 study found Swedes cited “lack of time” more than cost as the main reason for not having more children.

The U.S. is not immune to the global baby bust—but it has a buffer.

🇺🇸 America’s fertility rate fell to 1.62 in 2023, the lowest on record. Without immigration, the population would already be declining.

However, the U.S. remains relatively younger than Europe or East Asia, thanks to:

  • Higher immigration levels

  • A relatively high birth rate among some groups, particularly Hispanic populations

Putting it in perspective: Immigration is now the main driver of U.S. population growth—not births.

🔎 Did you know? By 2040, immigrants and their children will account for nearly 90% of U.S. population growth.

China's once-mighty population engine is stalling—and fast.

🇨🇳 In 2015, it scrapped the one-child policy. In 2021, it encouraged three. Yet in 2023, fertility fell to 1.0. Despite tax perks and cash bonuses, young Chinese couples are saying no.

Why?

  • High costs of education and housing

  • Urban pressure and long work hours

  • Rising disinterest in marriage and parenting

And the consequences are now arriving: China’s population declined for the first time in six decades last year.

🔎 Projection alert: By 2050, China will have twice as many people over 65 as under 15—making it the world’s fastest-aging major economy.

Can immigration fix a baby bust? Some countries are betting on it.

🇨🇦 Canada welcomed over 1 million immigrants in 2023, a strategic move to balance its fertility rate of 1.4.
🇦🇺 Australia uses points-based systems to attract skilled young workers.
🇩🇪 Germany, where fertility hovers around 1.5, is opening labor channels from regions like the Balkans and South Asia.

Migration doesn’t just fill short-term labor gaps. It now shapes economies, education systems, and urban development.

🔎 Telling shift: Without immigration, Europe would have begun shrinking 30 years ago.

Fertility rates may sound abstract—but their impact is personal.

They shape:

  • 🏘️ Real estate trends (more retirees = different housing needs)

  • 💼 Labor markets (worker shortages drive up costs or accelerate automation)

  • 📈 Investment trends (aging societies = growth in biotech, eldercare, robotics)

  • 🌍 Relocation decisions (consider healthcare and tax systems shaped by age structure)

Whether you're considering a move, weighing investment opportunities, or planning for your family’s next chapter, understanding fertility futures gives you an edge.

🔎 Forecast: By 2080, 🇮🇳 India will be the world’s most populous country, and over 60% of all people will live in Asia or Africa.

Birth rates reflect aspirations, policies, pressures—and possibilities.

As some nations shrink and others surge, the global balance of power, productivity, and potential will follow suit.

For global-minded readers like you, staying ahead of these trends is strategic. Whether you're considering where to retire, invest, relocate, or simply live your fullest life, the future is being written one birth—and one policy—at a time.

Stay curious. Stay informed. And keep exploring the forces quietly shaping tomorrow’s world.

Warm regards,

Shane Fulmer
Founder, WorldPopulationReview.com

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