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We could rely on data to infer why our birth rates are falling. Or, and I know this is crazy, we could listen to young families who are happy to share the reasons why they delay growing their family, or even decide not to at all. The answers would probably be very consistent: unaffordable childcare, school shootings, climate change, lack of community support, etc etc etc.
People aren’t having kids due to climate change!? LOL
Unhealthy environment from the geopolitical standpoint, a deteriorating job market, poor schools, unaffordable private schools, high cost of child care (can one parent afford to stay home, that is, assuming two parents).But many are waiting until mid to late 30s or later for children, a period when their job security (read: health insurance) appears safe. Than again, some are likely delaying as the current worldwide state of affairs is at best, depressing.
Well said! One of the byproducts of delaying the first child until mid to late 30’s is that it often doesn’t leave time for a second or third pregnancy. That shouldn’t be overlooked as a contributing factor to lower births
Look at the demographics of the counties,
The Amish have very high birth rates,
They have very sizable populations in
Lagrange, Adam’s, and Davies’s County’s. I’ll bet Steuben County is roads the top also.
Marion County has a very sizable immigrant population that is young.
Hispanics and the Burmese tend to have higher birth rates.
If I’m not mistaken, the white birth rate has been below replacement rate
for at least 10 to 15 years.
Many counties such as Delaware, Madison, and Wayne have had declining populations since the late
1970’s. The median age is also older
than the average as young people are moving away for better job opportunities and quality of life.
An interesting study would be to see how many of our young people are moving away, especially to the Sunbelt.
Keith, you’ve got a couple young men describing why they’ve struggled with the decision to start a family in Indianapolis in 2026. I’m not sure what the Brain Drain has to do with that but I totally agree it’s a huge problem. Perhaps ironically, the climate change that’s causing millennials to rethink kids should also push folks away from the sun belt and towards the Great Lakes Region as their weather events get more severe and the availability of insurance becomes scarce.
Michael N.
I do agree that climate change will eventually bring people and economic development back to the industrial Midwest,
I wonder how long it will take the MAGAts to blame it on DEI and liberal attitudes towards same-sex relationships. And high taxes.
People have been migrating from the Industrial Midwest and the Northeast
Sine the late 70’s to early 80’s.
The same South that is far more conservative than Indiana.
So what’s the secret????
Jobs, warmer climate, lower cost of living, and less crime. Again, the same South that is more conservative .
Keith, you said it yourself: better job opportunities and quality of life.
So they leave rural and small town Indiana for Indy, Fort Wayne, Evansville.
The census numbers back up what Chris says.
We as a state don’t feel like investing in the future, which includes investing in our youth.