For years, it has been said that younger generations no longer want to have children. However, a report commissioned by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) titled “Lives, Choices, and the Future” presents a much more complex reality: the desire to start a family remains strong among young people, but the conditions for doing so have become increasingly difficult.

The cost of living, the lack of affordable housing, job instability, insecurity, and the lack of childcare services are delaying vital decisions. In an interview with our website, The Costa Rica News, UNFPA spokespeople in Costa Rica explain why low fertility rates should not be interpreted as a loss of family values, but rather as the result of a gap between aspirations and actual opportunities.

In the case of Costa Rica, the survey reveals a unique blend of concern and optimism. Young people recognize the challenges they face, but they also have confidence in their ability to drive change and build better living conditions.

“Young people are not losing the desire to start a family; they are facing limitations inherent to their environment.”

First and foremost, we must acknowledge as the main finding that the desire to start families is alive and well. “What is lacking are the conditions for young people to pursue their diverse life plans.”

However, UNFPA spokespeople in Costa Rica emphasized that what is most surprising is that it is only now that young people’s voices are beginning to shape the responses with which societies and public policies address the challenges of ultra-low fertility.

“That is the study’s main value: helping us understand the gap that exists in young people’s reproductive agency, the reality that shapes their lives, and the way in which public policies can serve as a bridge or an anchor between these two elements.”

If most young people still want to start a family, why does the perception persist that the younger generations no longer want to have children?

According to spokespeople for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), this misconception stems from a failure to examine “the root causes” behind the decline in fertility rates and the postponement of family planning.

The study reveals that material conditions, social norms, and the environment are key determinants of young people’s reproductive decisions. “Here we must pay special attention to moving beyond an adult-centered view of how and when young people should develop their life plans.”

The gap between what young people desire and what they are able to achieve is explained by structural barriers, not by a loss of individual and family values. To claim otherwise is a gross oversimplification and an interpretive distortion that prevents us from effectively addressing the root causes.

Are we witnessing a loss of the desire to start families, or is it simply a postponement due to unfavorable economic and social conditions?

The report is unequivocal: this is a postponement forced by a lack of opportunities.

Young people are not losing their desire; rather, they face limitations inherent to their environment, particularly those related to economic factors and financial security.

In other words, they are delaying life-changing decisions while they wait to reach milestones such as financial stability, a secure job, and a place to live—conditions that are becoming increasingly difficult to achieve at a young age.

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Regarding the question, “What weighs most heavily on young people’s decisions: the cost of living, housing, job stability, or uncertainty about the future?” it is important to note that the UNFPA study reveals some key findings that deserve further examination.

In this regard, the survey suggests that the cost of living, the lack of affordable housing, and the absence of care services are the most critical barriers.

Globally, 72% of respondents cite financial and housing constraints as the biggest obstacle to having children. Additionally, 81% consider financial security to be the most important prerequisite before entering into a relationship.

Furthermore, 85% consider emotional readiness to be an essential requirement for becoming a parent.

This involves having the mental health necessary to manage the stress inherent in parenthood, being in a stable, equitable, and violence-free relationship, and feeling capable of providing a positive upbringing.

Emotional preparedness should not be viewed solely as an individual matter. It also depends on the existence of support networks, mental health services, and conditions that allow parenting to take place without undue stress or violence.

Based on your perspective and the various reports you’ve conducted, at what point in life do young people begin to feel that having children is financially out of reach?

The available data shows that an increasing number of people are having children at older ages.

“In the case of Costa Rica, we have observed an increase over the past year in the number of births among women aged 30 to 39. This is likely related to the material and economic conditions they face at that stage of their lives.”

Motherhood and fatherhood are thus shifting to later stages of life, when some people feel they have achieved greater stability to take on the responsibilities involved in raising children.

Does economic insecurity affect those who want to get married, live together, or have children equally?

It affects all of these life milestones, but it has a much more severe and definitive impact on the decision to have children.

While living with a partner is sometimes chosen precisely to share expenses and ease the financial burden—57% cite financial problems as a barrier to forming a relationship—having a son or daughter represents a long-term financial commitment that most people do not undertake without guarantees of stability.

Costa Rica: Concern in the Present and Optimism for the Future

Costa Rica exhibits high levels of concern, but also strong optimism. How can this apparent contradiction be explained?

Spokespersons indicate that young Costa Ricans are fully aware of the challenges and, at the same time, recognize their ability to bring about change to ensure better lives.

They are realistic about the present and optimistic about the future.

This combination demonstrates that concern does not necessarily translate into a lack of hope. On the contrary, it can coexist with a willingness to participate, propose changes, and demand institutional responses to the problems that affect their life plans.

Portrait of young happy man and woman holding newborn cute babe dressed in white unisex clothing. Caucasian smiling father and mother embracing tenderly adorable new born child. Happy family concept

Social disparities that still need to be addressed

Rising public insecurity and violence against women discourage people from having children, while the high cost of housing and unemployment limit their ability to become independent.

On the other hand, a key challenge that UNFPA has highlighted since the 2025 State of the World’s Population report is the growing gap between men’s and women’s perspectives on relationships.

“Women are becoming increasingly clear about their rights and more aware of the inequalities they face. However, some young men hold views that are not open to sharing responsibility for the burdens of caregiving, child-rearing, and household chores that come with starting a family.”

All of these factors create an ecosystem that pushes plans for motherhood and fatherhood back to the late thirties—or causes them to be abandoned altogether.

Public Policies to Ensure That Starting a Family Does Not Mean Poverty

Certain policies could be decisive, including the expansion of first-home subsidies for young people, the promotion of affordable housing, and the establishment of universal, equitable, and paid parental leave.

It is also essential to aggressively expand the Care Network, ensuring access from the earliest months, as well as to strengthen the National Care System.

All of this must be managed in tandem with efforts to address social norms, particularly the promotion of healthy masculinities that do not limit young people’s ability to exercise their reproductive agency.

Motherhood Remains Marked by Inequality

The study *Lives, Choices, and the Future* shows that gender norms continue to influence family life. In this regard, what responsibilities continue to fall primarily on women?

According to UNFPA, women continue to shoulder the vast majority of unpaid work.

This includes direct child-rearing, caring for older adults, children, and dependent adults, as well as household chores.

This unequal burden is a central point highlighted by the report and constitutes a critical disincentive to family planning.

Why do women face more barriers to having children than men?

Because of what is known as the “motherhood penalty.”

Women face social norms that lead them to believe that having children is often seen as a disruption to their careers. They also face lower long-term earnings and discrimination from employers—challenges that men rarely experience to the same extent.

For many women, motherhood can mean fewer job opportunities, a greater caregiving burden, and a direct impact on their income and career prospects.

What is the most urgent decision governments should make today?

Shift the discussion from “how do we get more children born” to “how do we ensure that young people who want to start a family have the financial means, stability, and housing to do so without condemning themselves to poverty.”

It may seem like a subtle shift, but in terms of public policy and its impact, it makes a significant difference.

UNFPA stated that the focus of the conversation should not be on increasing births, but on ensuring that everyone can exercise their reproductive rights and make free, informed decisions that align with their life plans.

How can we support parenthood without pressuring anyone to have children?

By creating universally inclusive environments and always respecting people’s right—particularly women’s—to decide whether or not they want to have children, when, how many, and with whom.

Investing in education, fair wages, family leave, flexible work arrangements, and universal access to childcare supports those who decide to become parents. At the same time, it respects and improves the quality of life for those who choose not to.

Reproductive rights and personal autonomy must remain at the center.

Promoting ever-greater protection of human rights is the right path to ensuring that young people can exercise their rights and fulfill their aspirations.

What specific measure should Costa Rica implement immediately so that young people can build the future they want?

The recent results of the latest National Youth Survey highlight some key issues that can guide public policy decisions in Costa Rica.

“In this area, it is essential to address young people’s needs regarding mental health, housing, employment, and care. The response must be comprehensive and based on the needs that young people themselves are expressing.”

The conversation about fertility tends to focus on birth rates. But behind every number lie personal decisions, expectations, fears, and living conditions.

The challenge for Costa Rica—and for governments in general—is not to pressure young people into having children. It is to create the conditions so that those who wish to start a family can do so without sacrificing their rights, their well-being, or their personal goals.

You can follow UNFPA Costa Rica on social media: Instagram @unfpa_costarica and Facebook UNFPA in Costa Rica.

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