US media reported on 25/12, citing the American Family Survey conducted by the Wheatley Institute at Brigham Young University (BYU), that over 70% of respondents believe raising children is too expensive. This marks a 13% increase from 2024.

When asked further, 43% stated that a "lack of money" was the main reason they decided to have fewer children or none at all. Financial reasons were cited twice as often as any other factor contributing to Americans' reluctance to expand their families.

Susan Brown, director of Bowling Green State University's Center for Family and Demographic Research, noted that the 70% consensus among Americans regarding financial reasons for not having more children "is a noteworthy signal" about family formation views in the country.

American families are increasingly considering quality of life and rising living costs. They recognize they can no longer maintain the old notion that having children is "just something everyone does".

A large family photographed at Stanford University, California, USA, 2/12. *Photo: AFP*

According to the most recent report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, published in 2015, the cost of raising a child to adulthood in the United States, excluding college tuition, amounted to USD 233,610 for middle-income couples.

After adjusting for inflation up to 9/2025, this figure rises to USD 324,665. Other sources, such as Brookings and Lending Tree, estimate the cost of raising a child in the US at USD 310,605 (2022) and USD 297,674 (2025) respectively.

Child Care Aware of America reported that the national average cost for childcare in 2024 was USD 13,128 annually, with significant regional variations. For example, parents in Mississippi spend about USD 641 per month per child, while families in Washington face an average fee of USD 2,183 per month.

BYU survey respondents also identified other factors limiting their family size: relationship discord (17%), lack of family support (12%), and conflicts with career goals (14%).

These factors are often linked to economic reasons. Marital conflict can stem from financial stress. Conflicts with career goals frequently involve work-life trade-offs, which are inherently tied to finances.

The US birth rate in 2024 remained at a record low of 1.6 children per woman, causing concern among observers. A low birth rate means fewer people in the workforce, a shrinking tax base, and increased pressure on programs such as Social Security and Medicare.

Duc Trung (According to Money Wise, WSJ, AP)