Millions of people worldwide, including in Nepal, are unable to have the number of children they desire—not due to a lack of interest in parenthood, but because of growing economic and social constraints, according to the UNFPA’s 2025 State of World Population report titled “The Real Fertility Crisis: The Pursuit of Reproductive Agency in a Changing World.”
Based on data from 14 countries, including Nepal, the report finds that one in five people globally are not having the number of children they want. The reasons include high living costs, job insecurity, unaffordable housing and childcare, lack of reproductive health services, and concerns over global crises such as climate change and conflict.
In Nepal, despite a preference for two or more children, actual fertility has declined to two children per woman across all demographics. Provinces such as Bagmati and Gandaki, which are more urbanized, show a significant mismatch between desired and actual family size due to economic and social pressures. Labor migration, lack of affordable childcare, and gender norms also contribute to this gap. “Some people are prevented from parenthood while others are forced into it,” said Won Young Hong, UNFPA Representative in Nepal. “This is not about overpopulation or declining fertility—it’s about creating an enabling environment for reproductive choices.”
Globally, over 50 percent of survey respondents pointed to economic issues as key barriers to having children. In Nepal, urbanization, rising costs, and the absence of flexible work policies are making parenthood less feasible, especially for young couples. The report also notes a significant number of people over 50 saying they didn’t achieve their desired family size, and that in regions like Madhesh, many report having more children than planned—both signs of limited reproductive agency.
UNFPA identifies gender inequality as a core issue. In Nepal, caregiving duties fall mostly on women, while men often face stigma for playing nurturing roles. Lack of gender-friendly policies, such as parental leave and flexible work, perpetuate unequal parenting responsibilities.
“This is not just a women’s issue,” the report stresses. It highlights how young men, especially those with less education or economic security, are increasingly unpartnered and socially isolated, contributing to a growing global crisis of loneliness and fractured family structures.
Hanaa Singer-Hamdy, UN Resident Coordinator in Nepal, urged a shift from fear over fertility rates to empowering individual choice. “People need economic security and rights-based policies—not coercive measures,” she said.
Health Ministry Secretary Dilliram Sharma emphasized that Nepal’s focus should be on inclusive development through informed reproductive choices. National Planning Commission member Prof. Dr RP Bichha added that population policies should prioritize quality of life and youth productivity.
The report warns against coercive measures like fertility targets and cash incentives, advocating instead for policies that expand access to quality reproductive health services, paid parental leave, affordable childcare, and comprehensive sexuality education. As Nepal faces the prospect of one in five people being over 60 by 2071, UNFPA urges investments in gender-equal, choice-driven policies to secure its demographic future.
