New UNFPA data suggests that young people in Eastern Europe and Central Asia have not abandoned the goal of family life; instead, systemic obstacles are impeding their ability to achieve it. This finding, detailed in regional data from the United Nations Population Fund, complicates the narrative that falling birth rates reflect a declining interest in parenthood. The survey, which polled over 13,500 internet-connected respondents aged 18 to 39 across eleven countries, reveals striking optimism, with 65% of respondents feeling positive about their future, despite reporting high anxiety regarding economic instability and conflict.
Marriage and parenthood remain key life goals, with 79% desiring marriage and 87% citing happiness as a reason for having children. However, a significant disconnect exists between desire and reality. Among women aged 35 to 39, nearly all who are childless report that their situation is not by choice.
The gap between desired and actual family size is substantial. UNFPA’s regional director, Florence Bauer, argues this divergence is structural rather than attitudinal. She notes that the central issue is not changing attitudes, but rather the inability to navigate the required life sequence.
This sequence demands secure employment, independent housing, a stable partnership, and only then, children. If any link in this chain is broken, progress stalls. The survey identified financial insecurity and housing shortages as primary barriers.
Bauer emphasizes that policies focusing solely on
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It’s concerning that systemic issues, rather than a change in desire, are preventing young people in that region from starting families.