Convergence or Diversity? Trends and Patterns of Childlessness across Low-Fertility Countries

Luca Badolato , The Ohio State University

The sustained declines in fertility across high-income countries have spurred attention to the role of childlessness, with demographic estimates showing rising levels of both involuntary and voluntary childlessness. However, it is not clear whether trends and patterns of childlessness are converging across low-fertility countries or whether there is persistent diversity. In this extended abstract, I combine data from the Human Fertility Database, the European Social Survey, and the Generations and Gender Survey to provide an overarching demographic perspective of trends in observed fertility (cohort childlessness, completed cohort fertility, and mean age at first birth), acceptability of voluntary childlessness, and intended and ideal lifetime childlessness. Results reveal substantial heterogeneity and persistent diversity across low-fertility countries, an increase in the acceptability of voluntary childlessness, and a significant gap between ideal and intended childlessness, suggesting barriers in translating fertility ideals into actual plans.

See extended abstract

 Presented in Session P1. Families, Fertility, and the Life Course 1