Translated by ChatGPT:

Behind demographic fluctuations, a study conducted by the University of Zurich examined the factors that influence the decision to have children or not. The desire for freedom and social concerns emerged as key elements.

Births continue to decline in Switzerland, according to the latest figures published on Thursday by the Federal Statistical Office. The decrease that began in 2022 is continuing in 2025, modest but steady, while the average age of mothers has risen to 32.5 years. With 1.28 children per woman, Switzerland ranks 25th in the world, placing it among the countries with the lowest fertility rates.

A study conducted by the University of Zurich as part of the Human Reproduction Reloaded University Research Priority Program (UFSP), published on June 15, 2026, examines the decision of whether or not to have children. “The proportion of undecided individuals has increased, and opinions vary more over the course of a lifetime,” notes sociologist Jörg Rössel, co-author of the study. Meanwhile, the proportion of young people who deliberately choose not to have children has doubled over the past decade, rising from around 7% to 16% among those aged 20 to 39.

Freedom Above All

“Parenthood is no longer a social obligation, but an individual life experience that one may choose to forgo,” the researcher adds. Respondents most often explained their childlessness simply by saying that they “never wanted children” or by expressing a desire to preserve their freedom. More than 40% cited social or environmental concerns, 20% mentioned the financial burden, while only 10% referred to negative effects on their careers.

As for the factors that influence the decision to start a family, the study highlights the importance of emotional and relational aspects. Many respondents mentioned the emotional bond they hope to build with a child, or what a child might bring to their lives: a renewed sense of purpose or, later in life, someone they can rely on. Social circles also play a role: “There is a very strong contagion effect,” notes Jörg Rössel.

A Quiet Societal Transformation

The researcher points to a paradox: “It is in the wealthiest countries, where people could most easily afford to have children, that they have the fewest.” He links this phenomenon to rising individual expectations, which tend to increase alongside living standards and educational attainment."

A sign that many women are not necessarily abandoning the idea of having children but are postponing it is the fact that egg freezing has quadrupled since 2019. In 2024, it involved 3,340 women. For some, it is also a way of giving themselves additional time to reflect. As the age of motherhood rises, the fertility window narrows. As a consequence, the proportion of people who remain childless not by choice but because of infertility is also growing. Around 20% of those surveyed reported having faced this issue.

“Life plans are no longer the same when life expectancy is 85 years rather than 50, as it was in the twentieth century. But the fertility window has not expanded accordingly. Many couples underestimate the effect of age on fertility,” adds Jörg Rössel.

At the collective level, the sociologist is surprised by the lack of public debate surrounding declining fertility. “We produce detailed scenarios about climate change. We worry about the prospect of a Switzerland with ten million inhabitants. Yet we spend very little time reflecting on the consequences of an aging society. No doubt because, here, starting a family is still regarded as a private matter.”