Voluntary childlessness, or being kid-free on purpose, may seem like an obscure lifestyle choice for some people, while it is completely normal for many others. It is a common misconception that people who choose to remain childless by choice hate kids.
In fact, there are many reasons why someone may choose this lifestyle, including avoiding the cost of having kids, the lack of parental leave or available childcare, as well as the overhyped expectations of being a parent.
In this article, we have collected all of the most relevant voluntary childlessness statistics to show you the figures not only for the United States but also for many other countries around the world.
Without further ado, here is everything you need to know about living without kids by choice.
Top Ten Voluntary Childlessness Statistics for 2022
- 17% of Caucasian women are childless by choice.
- The childlessness rates among women in their 40s are the highest in Spain with 21.6% and the lowest in Turkey with 4.5%.
- Childless couples statistics in the UK reveal that 20% of British women in their 40s are child-free.
- In Britain, about 90% of people belonging to the LGBT community do not have kids.
- Voluntary childlessness statistics reveal that 22% of childless women have a master’s degree.
- 54% of poll respondents think parents should go on vacation without their kids on special occasions.
- What percentage of American couples are childless? A staggering 57% of American households are child-free.
- Among the baby boomer generation, the rate of people who are aging solo is nearly 20%.
- Childless couples statistics show that childlessness in the United States from 10% to around 20% between the mid 70’s and the mid-’00s.
- Over 1 million child-free individuals who are over the age of 65 are at a higher risk of poor health and poverty.
Voluntary Childlessness in the U.S. Statistics
Voluntary childlessness is a trend that may be a bit surprising to those who haven’t heard of it. Especially if you have children yourselves. Here are some basic stats and facts you need to know about this phenomenon.
1. Childless couples statistics show that childlessness in the United States from 10% to around 20% between the mid 70’s and the mid-’00s.
(ResearchGate) (TheAtlantic)
Statistics for the United States reveal that since 2011, the number of infants born in New York has declined by 9%, and 15% in Manhattan. This means that it is highly likely that the infant population in Manhattan will halve in around 30 years.
2. What percentage of Americans are childless? A survey from 2018 revealed that 33.6% of American women are childless.
(Statista)
Even though the percentage of childlessness is the highest among women between the ages of 15-19, we believe that the percentage of childless women between the ages of 30-34 and 45-50 is more relevant, the latter showing 15%. Furthermore, 20% of women between the ages of 35-39 are childless.
3. The fertility rate in the United States was the lowest in 2017, with 60.3 births per 1,000 women between the ages of 15-44, based on stats about accepting a childless life.
(USAToday)
The most recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealed that the lowest rate in more than 30 years was observed in 2017. According to Laura S. Scott, women are no longer constantly told by society to have kids.
Celebrities such as Jennifer Aniston and Oprah Winfrey helped with dissipating the stigma related to not having children. Furthermore, Ellen Degeneres and Portia de Rossi are among the most famous childless couples out there.
4. A poll of almost 2,000 Americans revealed that the percentage of childless adults who did not want kids because they wanted more free time is 36%.
(USAToday)
The poll also revealed that the participants were between the ages of 20-45, and 34% of them claimed they did not have a partner to raise a child with.
A further 31% stated that they could not afford proper childcare. These statistics show that thousands of Americans are choosing to say “no” to parenthood due to lifestyle choices and financial stability.
5. What percentage of American couples are childless? A staggering 57% of American households are child-free.
(Reuters)
These statistics reveal that the percentage of child-free marriages is increasing each year, compared to 2012, when around 29% of married couples were living alone.
According to Jonathan Vespa, a researcher in the Census Bureau’s Fertility and Family Statistics Branch, there are plenty of smaller households and more people living by themselves in America.
6. Voluntary childlessness statistics reveal that 22% of childless women have a master’s degree.
(PewSocialTrends)
It is important to note that the childfree movement among women who are highly educated are declining partly due to advances in reproductive technology. Nevertheless, overall, women who have obtained a higher education degree are more likely to choose a kid-free lifestyle.
According to the Pew Research Center, 20% of women with an M.D. or Ph.D. are kid-free, while 19% with a bachelor’s degree only do not have children.
Whereas, statistics on women who are childfree show that 7% of women without a high school diploma are kid-free.
7. 17% of Caucasian women are childless by choice.
(PewSocialTrends)
According to statistics by the Pew Research Center on ethnic and racial differences in childlessness in women between the ages of 40-44, 15% of African-American women, and 13% of Asian women are child-free.
Furthermore, only 10% of Hispanic women between the ages of 40-44 report not having any children of their own.
Global Childfree Statistics
Voluntary childlessness is not rising in America only, but all over the world as well. While the reasons are more or less the same, there have been some surprising discoveries we wish to share with you in the following stats.
8. 32% of women born in Hamburg, Germany, reach their 40s without any children.
(Economist)
Overall, in Germany, 22% of women reach their early 40s without having any kids. The situation is similar in different areas of Europe, such as England and Wales, where 9% of women born in 1946 had no kids. Another 17% of Welsh or English women who were born in the 1970s do not have any biological children.
9. Childless couples statistics in the UK reveal that 20% of British women in their 40s are child-free.
(DailyMail)
According to voluntary childlessness rates in the world, the United Kingdom comes in third. On the list, you can also find New Zealand, with 15%, and Sweden, with 13.4% of childless women. Experts state that British women are very goal-driven and are focusing more on improving their careers.
10. In Britain, about 90% of people belonging to the LGBT community do not have kids.
(TheGuardian) (Statista)
Even though same-sex couples can legally adopt kids since 2002, some still choose not to. In America, 40% of gay men and 34.5% of lesbians choose to be child-free. Additionally, the percentage of childless adults who are disabled is 85%.
11. The childlessness rates among women in their 40s are the highest in Spain with 21.6% and the lowest in Turkey with 4.5%.
(DailyMail)
Stats reveal that Austria comes in second with 21.5% of women in their 40s who are child-free, followed by the United Kingdom (20%) and Finland (19.9%).
The lowest rates are evident in the Czech Republic (7.1%), South Korea (6.8%), and Turkey (4.5%).
12. According to childless couples statistics in Australia, the rates of childless couples has increased from 28% to 37.8% in 2011.
(AustralianInstituteOfFamilyStudies)
The Australian Institute of Family Studies revealed that there are over 5 million families in Australia. On average, the Australian household size was 2.6 per 1,000 population in 2011.
According to Anne Hollonds, it is believed that, in the future, Australian families will further shrink in size as more people will live without kids.
13. Childless couples statistics for Canada reveal that 15.2% of women over the age of 45 are childless.
(NCBI)
However, the childlessness rates among women living in urban areas have shown a decline over the years, with 10.8% of Canadian women between the ages of 30-44 being kid-free. The findings do not include women who are sterile, as 10% of the population belongs to this category.
Childfree Vacation Statistics
As much as you love your kids, sometimes you just need a time-out, and there’s nothing bad about it. Kids can be overwhelming, especially if they are not yours, so the label ‘kids-free’ is becoming more and more popular in exclusive resorts, and here is why.
14. 54% of poll respondents think parents should go on vacation without their kids on special occasions.
(FamilyVacationCritic)
According to the findings of a poll by YouGov, another 23% think that parents should go on child-free trips regularly. The perks of going on a child-free vacation include having more time for yourself, relieving stress, rekindling the romance between partners, and appreciating kids more.
15. Childfree stats reveal that the Post Ranch Inn (California) and Hotel Wailea (Maui, Hawaii) are some of the most popular kid-free vacation getaways.
(HuffPost)
Single people, couples, or married people who want to take a break from children prefer kid-free resorts, such as El Dorado Maroma (Mexico), Sandals Whitehouse (Jamaica), and Beach Club Hotel (Australia). These resorts offer visitors the much needed “quiet time” and a chance to fully relax.
Being Single/Childfree Older Adults Facts
It is a misconception that a wish to be child-free is a concept new generations came up with, and we have stats to prove it.
16. Among the baby boomer generation, the rate of people who are aging solo is nearly 20%.
(HuffPost)
“Solo agers” is a popular term that is applied to aging people who decide to ditch the idea of parenthood for good. Since the number of these “solo agers” is expected to increase, according to statistics on being childfree, it is believed that there will also be a higher demand for family caregivers.
17. Over 1 million child-free individuals who are over the age of 65 are at a higher risk of poor health and poverty.
(TheGuardian)
According to the findings, these older individuals are at acute risk of loneliness, inability to access proper formal care, and isolation. In fact, it is expected that the number of older child-free people in the UK will double by 2030.
FAQ
Are childless couples happier?
(BBC)
Many people falsely believe that childlessness and depression go hand-in-hand, but a study conducted by researchers from the Open University found that couples who are kid-free have a happier marriage.
The researchers evaluated 5000 individuals of various different ages, statuses, and sexual orientations, claiming that childless individuals feel more valued by their significant other if they are kid-free.
The co-author of the report, Dr. Jacqui Gabb, commented on the results of the study by saying that without the pressures of parenting, couples put more energy into keeping their relationship alive and booming.
Why do some couples choose to remain childless?
(Today)
There are various reasons for voluntary childlessness. For instance, some people have always disliked the idea of having kids. Some may have been influenced by personal attitudes, childhood experiences, or other people with kids.
Secondly, some do not like the way kids can alter people’s lives. Another common reason to stay kid-free is being closer to the partner and keeping the romance going.
Additionally, the costs of parenthood may be too overwhelming for many, so these people decide to cut costs and avoid raising kids altogether.
Conclusion
All in all, these voluntary childlessness statistics reveal that choosing to go kid-free is becoming more common not only in the United States but also in the whole world.
The top reasons why people are choosing to avoid parenthood are the desire for spontaneity, freedom, autonomy, and the ability to travel anywhere.
Lastly, we believe that everyone has the power to choose what is right for them, even if this means deciding to go kid-free.
