KATHMANDU, JUNE 17

Economic insecurity, limited reproductive support, and future uncertainty are preventing millions worldwide, including in Nepal, from having the number of children they desire, according to UNFPA's 2025 State of World Population (SWP) report, "The Real Fertility Crisis: The Pursuit of Reproductive Agency in a Changing World."

The report, based on global academic research and a UNFPA–YouGov survey across 14 countries, finds that one in five people expect not to meet their desired family size due to barriers such as high living costs, insecure jobs, unaffordable housing and childcare, lack of supportive partners, limited reproductive healthcare, and global concerns like climate change and conflict.

In Nepal, fertility rates have declined to an average of two children per woman, despite a consistent preference for larger families. This gap is more evident in urban provinces like Bagmati and Gandaki, where job insecurity, rising living costs, spousal separation due to labor migration, and lack of childcare support are making parenthood increasingly difficult, the report noted.

"Globally, vast numbers of people are unable to create the families they want," said Won Young Hong, UNFPA Representative in Nepal. "It is the case for Nepal as well. Some people are prevented from parenthood while others are forced into it. This is not about overpopulation or declining fertility-it is about expanding choices in an enabling environment for young men and women to have the family they envision. Paid family leave, affordable reproductive health care, childcare, and supportive partners are not luxuries. They are essential."

The report shows that more than 50% of respondents globally identify economic challenges as barriers to parenthood. In Nepal, a combination of urbanization, job insecurity, rising costs, and lack of flexible work policies makes it difficult for young couples to envision a secure future with children. While 31% of people globally do not achieve their desired number of children, 12% have more than they planned-both reflecting limited reproductive agency. In Nepal, disparities are visible across regions: some, like Bagmati, report fewer children than desired; others, like Madhesh, report more.

Gender inequality is highlighted as a critical factor. Women continue to bear the brunt of caregiving roles, while Nepali men often face stigma for taking on parenting roles. The lack of gender-responsive policies-such as flexible work, parental leave, and affordable childcare-further discourages shared responsibilities, limiting family choices for both women and men.

Declining fertility is not simply a "women's issue." In Nepal and elsewhere, young men-particularly those with less education or job security-are increasingly unpartnered and disengaged. The report notes a growing loneliness epidemic and mismatch in gender expectations among youth, further straining the social fabric.

UN Resident Coordinator to Nepal, Hanaa Singer-Hamdy, emphasized, "We must shift from anxiety about fertility rates to empowering individual agency. People need economic security, rights-based policies, and freedom of choice, not coercive measures."

Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Population Dilliram Sharma called for removing structural barriers and ensuring reproductive rights. Professor Dr. R.P. Bichha of the National Planning Commission stressed the importance of population dynamics in shaping inclusive and productivity-driven policies.

In the report, UNFPA warned that simplistic or coercive responses-such as fertility targets, cash incentives, or restrictions on reproductive rights-are ineffective and risk violating human rights. Rather, policies that are supportive of individual choice are more successful in enabling people to realize their family aspirations.

It called for expanding access to affordable reproductive healthcare and fertility services, investing in family-friendly policies, tackling legal and societal barriers, and providing comprehensive sexuality education. With Nepal projected to have one in five people over 60 by 2071, the report urges smart, inclusive policies to address the implications of an aging population.

UNFPA reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the Government of Nepal in developing smart, inclusive, and data-driven policies that uphold reproductive rights and unlock the country's demographic potential.