Most Americans don't want kids anymore

Most Americans don't want kids anymore - and it's not because of the economy<br><br>Most Americans don't want kids anymore - and it's not because of the economy (msn.com)<br><br>Most of us can't afford it. And many of us believe it would be selfish to bring kids into this period in human history anyway. <br><br>With the country poised to become majority-minority by the decade's end and social and cultural divisions deepening, raising children who will be part of the next generation has become a daunting prospect.<br><br>As the birthrate dips to historic lows, new data from the Pew Research Center reveals that 44% of non-parents aged 18 to 49 don't want kids. And it's not just about money: a survey of 3,855 U.S. adults (including 899 parents and 1,885 non-parents) conducted in February shows that many Americans are second-guessing parenthood because of the country's uncertain future.<br><br>Though the most common reasons for not wanting kids are being too young (41%) or being unable or unwilling to afford it (37%) — which says a lot about the state of the economy — nearly 1 in 3 adults (31%) say the future of the world is a major reason.<br><br>And a majority (59%) of both parents and non-parents agree that the future of the world is a "major reason" not to have kids.<br><br>Though the poll did not ask respondents to elaborate on what they mean by "the future of the world," 44% of parents and non-parents alike say they are "concerned" that their children will not have a safe place to live.<br><br>Besides economics and the future of the planet, other factors deterring people from parenthood include a desire for freedom (29%), a preference for hobbies (24%), and worry about climate change (22%).<br><br>Though the most common reason for wanting kids is to "fulfill a sense of purpose" (52%), the second most common reason is to "make new friends" (34%).<br><br>Ultimately, the choice to have kids is a complex and deeply personal one that counts many factors.<br><br>With nearly 64 million Gen Zers (those born between 1997 and 2012) estimated to join the workforce in the next decade, their generation will not only fundamentally change the childfree landscape but the face of the country as a whole.<br><br>And though the number of people expressing a desire to be childfree may continue to climb in the coming years, the reasons behind it look to be more varied than ever.