Trend toward childless households in 2024 census could affect employment

Bolivian families are increasingly choosing to have fewer children, leading to a decline in the national fertility rate, which, according to the latest Demographic and Health (EDSA) data from the National Statistics Institute (INE), fell from 7.5 children per family in the 1970s to 2.1 children per marriage in 2023, a result that was reflected in the last Population and Housing Census in 2024.

According to INE, a fertility rate of 2.1 means Bolivian families barely reach replacement rate, meaning that only as many children are born as the parents who gave birth to them.

For the ILO, the impact of a lower birth rate on the economy and society can be analyzed from different perspectives. On the one hand, it leads to a reduction in the labor force and employment in the economy, thus affecting a country’s economic growth, production and productivity.

On the other hand, the reduction in the labor force affects tax collection on both the supply and demand sides. In addition to affecting the sustainability of pension systems and social security, it also reduces the possibility of financing social investment projects such as health centers, schools and infrastructure.

This rate is in line with global data. A study prepared by the United Nations (UN) shows that the global fertility rate has fallen from 3.2 births per woman in 1990 to 2.5 in 2019. The forecast suggests that the downward trend in fertility will continue in the coming years and that fertility rates will continue to fall. By 2050, each woman will have 2.2 children.

“This trend shows that more and more people are choosing not to have children. They are prioritizing personal and professional projects before thinking about becoming a mother or father,” explains Tatiana Montoya, family psychotherapist and professor of psychology at Franz Tamayo University.

Professionals point out that this trend is largely due to high competitiveness, prolonged training processes and high living costs, as well as other motivations such as environmental awareness, greater freedom or emotional stability and economy.

“In principle, young people have realized how competitive the world of work is. Of course, the absence of a profession, a master’s degree, a doctorate, a postdoctorate makes it unlikely that they can reach the safety zone. This shows that priorities have changed, the tendency to maintain relationships for many years, but without taking into account children, requires a lot of strength, changes in the life cycle: birth, growth, reproduction and death,” says the family psychotherapist.

Today, those who choose not to have children are called “No children“The term (childlessness by choice) has emerged in the U.S. However, most people don’t know when they decide to do so that they are choosing a life free from parenthood.

“I think their fear and belief that they can’t raise and educate human beings who are useful to society is one of the reasons they decide not to have children,” Montoya said.

However, it is important to note that while the decision not to have children may be a personal, valid choice, people still face strong social pressure to follow traditional family models.

“Sometimes the messages sent by primary caregivers or extended family about having children can become stressful or difficult,” the psychologist said.

For family psychotherapists, a young person’s decision not to have children has nothing to do with dysfunction or traumatic experiences.

“It’s not necessarily a selfish act. (…) But I think it’s a very respectable and very practical decision that they just don’t want to have children, not because of a bad experience, but because they realize that their life is working well this way, they are functional, and they are happy in a way,” he said.

Previous generations differ from today in many ways, starting with fatherhood, which in the past was considered a responsibility and a way to continue the family line.

Information from the National Bureau of Statistics also shows that the minimum age for childbearing has increased. “Before, children were born at a very young age, but now the average age of birth is over 30 years old,” the entity explained.

This indicates that responsible sexuality programs are relatively successful and suggests that these programs should be strengthened in the coming years.

“I think more attention needs to be paid to this work. First of all, teenagers should not become parents. This is a very big problem that affects the economic, social, political and health levels because some young people become mothers when they are not ready,” questioned the psychologist.

Montoya said this early pregnancy phenomenon happens in young people because they are not yet mature mentally, emotionally and financially. However, this is due to the low level of participation of adolescents in sexual and reproductive health education workshops.

“All governments have been working on public policies to reduce teenage pregnancies through advocacy and awareness programmes (…) We have spaces like CIES and other municipal spaces to help teenagers,” he pointed out.

Programs and activities that inform and educate young people about responsible parenting are essential to promote conscious and informed decision-making about their future.

“I think it is important to discuss these issues equally in schools and universities and show them that it is not a decision to be blamed. Not having children is just a life choice, not an obligation to have children,” he concluded.

This causes the population growth rate to remain constant or decline, resulting in the population not growing as much as before.

According to preliminary data from the last population and housing census, the population of Bolivia reached 11,312,620 people, that is, an increase of 12% in 12 years. This growth is described as the lowest in the country’s history, since the average population growth was about 1.7 million, and now it has reached only 1.2 million.