UNFPA launches Demographic Futures survey: young people want families but cite economic, housing and security barriers

Jen Keita, executive director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), on Thursday presented the organization’s new Demographic Futures survey, saying it captures the aspirations and constraints young people report when considering partnership and parenthood.

"Most young people aspire to partnership and parenthood," Keita said, summarizing the report’s headline finding and stressing that uncertainty — not unwillingness — is driving many young people to delay or forgo family formation. She said the survey gathered responses from more than 100,000 internet‑connected young people across 73 countries.

The briefing laid out several key findings. Two‑thirds of respondents named marriage as part of their ideal relationship; two children was the most commonly reported ideal family size. Among respondents aged 25 to 39 who said they want a partner, Keita said about one‑quarter are single and not dating. The report also identified the top preconditions respondents said they need before having children: financial security, stable employment and emotional readiness.

Keita listed policy‑relevant supports respondents said would make family formation feasible: decent work, affordable housing, health and sexual‑reproductive services, childcare support, parental leave and gender equality at work and at home. "If we misread the problem, we risk designing the wrong solution," she said, framing the issue as one for policy rather than judgement.

Alessio Caniano, chief ad interim of UNFPA’s population and development branch, gave a technical overview and emphasized limits of the survey’s method. "We used companies that have online panels," Caniano said, adding the approach was rapid and cost‑effective but can produce samples that are not nationally representative in countries with low internet connectivity because online respondents tend to be a selected group with higher socioeconomic status.

Caniano described regional and gender patterns in the data: in five of seven regional groupings a two‑child ideal predominates, while parts of Africa report higher ideal sizes (three or four children). He said that among respondents aged 35 to 39 — a group close to the end of reproductive age — the average number of children they have is lower than their reported ideal; a large majority of child‑free respondents in that age group said they would ideally like to have children. He also said male respondents report higher ideal family sizes than female respondents, and that women consistently rate barriers and preconditions for parenthood as more important than men, especially around health and reproductive concerns.

Reporters asked follow‑up questions about methodology and access. Noreen Hussain of IPS News asked what "internet‑connected" means for the survey’s coverage; Caniano reiterated that the data came from online panels and cautioned against overgeneralizing to populations with low internet use. When asked which companies were used, Caniano named Canterlight Speed and Geopole.

Keita said the report is intended for researchers, governments and member states to inform demographic and social policy, and noted that some member states, donors and foundations have financed the project to enable continued regional and country‑level work. Caniano and Keita said regional reports with more detailed country data will be published later in the year.

The briefing closed after a short question period. UNFPA made the Demographic Futures report and forthcoming regional products the center of its call for "open evidence‑based dialogue" to shape rights‑based policy responses that address the economic, housing and security barriers young people identify.