A new study from Michigan State University shows that the number of childfree adults varies significantly across different US states. Researchers analyzed survey data from 2024, including responses from over 20,000 adults in all 50 states. The study clearly separated childfree adults from people who plan to have children later or cannot have them.
The results revealed clear regional differences. For instance, in states like California and Michigan, one in five adults is childfree. In contrast, in states such as Louisiana and the Dakotas, only one in ten adults chooses not to have children. Childfree adults are more common in places with higher living costs and stronger legal protections for reproductive rights.
Despite these patterns, the researchers noted that personal factors like age and marital status affect decisions much more than state laws or living expenses. Therefore, policy changes, such as lower living costs or new abortion laws, are unlikely to encourage childfree people to have children. Finally, because choosing not to have children goes against social norms, researchers plan to study this growing group further.
Difficult words
- vary — to be different from each othervaries
- regional — relating to a particular area of a country
- reproductive — connected with the process of producing babies
- marital — relating to marriage or being married
- norm — a standard pattern or expected way of behavingnorms
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Discussion questions
- Why do you think high living costs might influence a person's decision to have children?
- How do personal factors like age and marital status play a role in family planning?
- In your opinion, how are social norms around having children changing in your country?
