New poll finds majority of young Japanese adults never want children

A majority of adults in Japan have reported they plan to remain child-free, as the country's birth rate continues to plummet.

Key Takeaways:

• A recent survey found that over 60% of unmarried Japanese adults say they never want to have children.

• Many pointed to concerns about the economy, their careers, and social expectations.

• The birth rate in Japan has fallen to record lows in recent years.

The Details:

In an environment where population concerns dominate policy debates, a recent survey of Japan’s unmarried generation has revealed the complex web of economic pressure and social expectations influencing contemporary family formation. More than 60 percent of poll respondents, comprised of unmarried Japanese adults under 30, currently say that they do not want children.

A December survey by Rohto Pharmaceutical Co. found that 62.6% of 400 adults aged 18–29 are hesitant to start a family, quoting concerns about money and advancing their careers. This was an 18-point increase since 2020, the first year the yearly poll included that question.

About 64.7% of women stated their desire to remain child-free, exceeding the 60.7% of men who had that same stance, for the first time since the poll started documenting gender responses in 2020. The number of people opting not to have children has steadily risen from 44.0% in 2020, surpassing the 50% mark in 2023 at 55.2%.

In addition:

• Over 70% of women in the survey voiced their concerns about the financial strain of raising a child, while only 63.2% of men did the same.

• 61.4% of women felt that parenthood could stall their careers, while 51.2% of men expressed the same fear.

• Even among single respondents who still wished to have children, the desired age for becoming a parent has increased: in 2018, almost 40% planned to have a child by 30, but by 2025, only one in four echoed similar sentiments. 

Zoom In:

Rohto Pharmaceutical also polled 800 married people aged 25 to 44 who were contemplating starting a family.

Over 60% of women and about half of men stated that raising children would interfere with their careers. Around the same share of respondents mentioned they would consider switching jobs or roles if they decided to have children.

A Rohto spokesperson said the findings showcase the need for society and workplaces to support young people, even before they become parents.

To boost the birth rate, the Japanese government plans to increase childcare allowances and parental leave benefits, among other initiatives. Yet these efforts have not yet produced results, for government data revealed that Japan’s total births in 2025 decreased to 705,809, a record low for the tenth year in a row.

In February, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi — who made history as Japan’s first female prime minister in October — promised to intensify measures to counter the nation's faltering birth rate, describing the situation as a “silent emergency” that erodes Japan's vitality.

The Bottom Line:

It is evident that a growing majority of Japan’s unmarried young adults no longer envision a future that includes children, even as the country’s population ages and shrinks.

These results are a sobering call to promote a culture and policy environment that make it possible — and attractive for parenthood and family formation.

Protecting life is not merely resisting abortion; it also means tackling the economic, workplace, and cultural pressures that are leading a generation to shun parenthood. By promoting policies that support families — affordable childcare, flexible work, real protections for pregnant women and new parents — and by speaking clearly about the inherent dignity of every child, young people in Japan and beyond can be better equipped to embrace new life.