47 Older Folks Who Decided Not To Have Children Reveal How They Feel About It Years Later

There was once a time when getting married and having children was considered the main goal of life. People, especially women, were frowned upon if they didn't achieve this by their thirties. But things have changed. More and more adults are choosing to remain childfree, even if they do get married.

Some make the decision because they value personal freedom, travel, or career growth over dirty diapers, sleepless nights, and exorbitant school fees. When the Pew Research Center asked almost 2,000 childfree adults why they made the decision, the majority said they “just didn’t want” children.

In 2025, the U.S. fertility rate dropped to a historic low. According to data released by the Centers for Disease Control, there were 53.1 births per 1,000 women aged 15 to 44. It marked a 1% decline from the previous year, continuing a two-decade downward trend. Total births in the country are down nearly 23% since 2007.

Phillip Levine, an economics professor at Wellesley College, says “greater and more demanding job market opportunities, expanded leisure options, [and] increased intensity of parenting” are making “the option to have children less desirable.”

For some childfree adults, it's all about the money, honey. Experts from the Economic Policy Institute put the average cost of childcare in the state of California at nearly $22,000 per year. As Al Jazeera reported, it would take a minimum-wage worker 33 weeks to earn enough for childcare costs alone.

In states with a lower cost of living, like Alabama, it would take a minimum-wage worker 33 weeks to earn enough for childcare costs alone, which amount to around $8,000.

The Pew Research Center polled thousands of American adults. Half the group was age 50 and older, and didn’t have children. The other half were younger than 50, didn’t have children, and said they were unlikely to have kids in the future.

When asked why they didn't have children, the top response for those aged 50 or older was that it just didn’t happen. "Meanwhile, those in the younger group are most likely to say they just don’t want to have kids," reveals the Pew Research Center report. "Women younger than 50 are especially likely to say they just don’t want to have children (64% vs. 50% of men in this group)."

38% of those in the older group said there was a time when they wanted to have children, while 32% revealed they never wanted children. A quarter weren’t sure one way or the other. "Few say they frequently felt pressure to have children from family, friends or society in general," adds the report.

The majority of both the younger and older survey participants agreed that not having kids has made it easier for them to afford the things they want, have time for hobbies and interests, and save for the future. 

"In the younger group, about six-in-ten also say not having kids has made it easier for them to be successful in their job or career and to have an active social life," the Pew report notes.

A life without children isn't one without worries. When the Pew Research Center asked the childfree adults age 50 and older what concerns they may have as they age, the top response was "having enough money."

35% said this bothers them "extremely or very often." 26% said they're worried whether they'll have someone who will provide care for them, and 19% voiced concerns about being lonely.