This statistic shows the results of a 2013 survey taken among adult Americans regarding reasons for not having more children nowadays. 65 percent of respondents said that they think one reason could be the cost of having a child and the couple not having enough money to afford a child.
What do you think are the main reasons why couples do not have more children?
Characteristic
Share of respondents
Not enough money/Cost of raising child
65%
The state of the economy/Jobs
11%
Personal choice/No desire for children
6%
Poor society/Living in difficult times/Difficult environment
5%
Too selfish/Feel children interfere with personal freedom
4%
Single-parent homes/Divorce/Lack of commitment to marriage
3%
Lack of time/Too busy/Too time consuming
3%
Too many women working/Both parents work/Career concerns
3%
Children are hard work/Stressful
3%
Unable to have children/Cannot conceive
2%
Responsibilities involved/Too much responsibility
2%
Wife or husband not in good health
1%
Parents are older/Waited to have children
1%
Created with Highcharts 7.2.2Share of respondents65%65%11%11%6%6%5%5%4%4%3%3%3%3%3%3%3%3%2%2%2%2%1%1%1%1%1%1%1%1%1%1%1%1%1%1%6%6%Not enough money/Cost of raising childThe state of the economy/JobsPersonal choice/No desire for childrenPoor society/Living in difficult times/Difficult environmentToo selfish/Feel children interfere with personal freedomSingle-parent homes/Divorce/Lack of commitment to marriageLack of time/Too busy/Too time consumingToo many women working/Both parents work/Career concernsChildren are hard work/StressfulUnable to have children/Cannot conceiveResponsibilities involved/Too much responsibilityWife or husband not in good healthParents are older/Waited to have childrenCost of educationToo many children already/Concerned about overpopulationUncertainty about the future/Future is bleakJust don’t like childrenOtherNo opinion
0%5%10%15%20%25%30%35%40%45%50%55%60%65%70%75%
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Gallup. (September 25, 2013). What do you think are the main reasons why couples do not have more children? [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved June 03, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/274039/reasons-for-not-having-more-children/
Gallup. "What do you think are the main reasons why couples do not have more children?." Chart. September 25, 2013. Statista. Accessed June 03, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/274039/reasons-for-not-having-more-children/
Gallup. (2013). What do you think are the main reasons why couples do not have more children?. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: June 03, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/274039/reasons-for-not-having-more-children/
Gallup. "What Do You Think Are The Main Reasons Why Couples Do Not Have More Children?." Statista, Statista Inc., 25 Sep 2013, https://www.statista.com/statistics/274039/reasons-for-not-having-more-children/
Gallup, What do you think are the main reasons why couples do not have more children? Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/274039/reasons-for-not-having-more-children/ (last visited June 03, 2025)
What do you think are the main reasons why couples do not have more children? [Graph], Gallup, September 25, 2013. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/274039/reasons-for-not-having-more-children/
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