Demographics??? Humanity Union

Latin America: Demographics, Personal Fulfillment, and Parenting

Latin America is undergoing an unprecedented demographic process: a sustained decline in the birth rate. This isn’t a passing fad or trend, but a structural change that will define the future of our societies.

The inevitable question that arises is: What is happening that makes more and more people choose to have only one child, or even none at all?

Some figures illustrate the magnitude of the phenomenon. In the City of Buenos Aires (Argentina), for example, there are more pet dogs than children under ten years old [1]. South Korea faces such a low fertility rate that, if not reversed, it could lose half its population in a few decades [2]. In Japan, more adult diapers are sold than baby diapers [3].

These figures don’t just speak of a change in global demographics. They also reveal a deep cultural transformation: the way we understand personal fulfillment. For our grandparents, parenthood wasn’t a decision; it was a certainty. No one asked if they would have children, but how many. Today, however, being a mother or father is no longer perceived as an inevitable destiny, but as an option. And what’s most striking: more and more people are choosing not to take it.

Until a few decades ago, forming a family and having children was considered a life goal. However, a recent study [4] shows that 75% of young people do not consider it essential to feel fulfilled. Are we facing a problem that should concern us, or simply the natural evolution of modern societies?

Some Reasons for the Decline

Impact on professional career: Many people, especially women, experience that parenting can be incompatible with career advancement. Motherhood or fatherhood often entails an economic and opportunity cost that discourages the decision.
The cost of living: While in the past children could contribute to the family economy, today raising them to current standards involves an enormous financial investment.
Instability of couples: Although raising children without a stable partner is possible, the uncertainty about the duration of relationships discourages many from taking on that challenge.
Inequality in caregiving tasks: In Latin America, women spend, on average, three times more time than men on unpaid care, according to ECLAC data. It’s not surprising, then, that many of them question motherhood, knowing the burden will fall primarily on their shoulders.
Pessimism about the future: The climate crisis, geopolitical instability, inequality, and resource depletion lead many to ask themselves: Do I really want my children to live in this world?
New definitions of happiness: For a growing number of people, parenthood is no longer synonymous with fulfillment. Traveling, starting a business, enjoying leisure, or close emotional ties are perceived as equally legitimate paths to a full life.

Final Reflection

Given this landscape, a question arises that goes beyond the numbers and demographic projections: if fewer and fewer people want to have children, shouldn’t we also ask ourselves if the way we raise children today influences that decision?

The answer is, undoubtedly, affirmative. The experience of contemporary parenting is often marked by extreme demands: expectations of perfection, overload on mothers, lack of community support, increasing costs, and poor work-life balance. Raising children has become, in many cases, a solitary, burdensome, and socially unrecognized task.

If parenthood is perceived as a permanent surrender of autonomy and personal projects, it’s not surprising that many choose not to assume it. Conversely, if we manage to build societies where parenting is a shared, balanced, and rewarding experience—with support networks, effective public policies, and a culture of shared responsibility—perhaps more people will once again see in fatherhood and motherhood not a burden, but an opportunity for growth and meaning.

Ultimately, asking about the way we raise children today is asking about the kind of future we desire. Because demographics not only reflect how many of us there are, but also how we live, how we relate to each other, and the value we place on life together.

[1] According to data from the 2022 National Census of Population, Households, and Housing and the 2022 Annual Household Survey for the Argentine Republic.

[2] According to reports from Yonhap News Agency 2024.

[3] The number of births in Japan has fallen drastically: according to official sources, 758,631 babies were registered in 2023, the lowest figure since the 19th century.

[4] CIS (2025). CIS UADE Public Opinion Reports. Natality. Center for Social Research (CIS). UADE Foundation. August 2025.