A study by researchers from Masaryk University in Brno and Charles University in Prague has revealed a significant shift in attitudes toward parenthood among young people in the Czech Republic. The proportion of young adults planning to have children has notably decreased, influenced heavily by economic conditions and educational background.
The research, titled Modern Czech Family, surveyed individuals aged 18 to 39 and found that in 2020, 42% of respondents intended to have a child within three years. However, by 2022, this figure had dropped to only 30%. The trend was consistent for long-term family planning, with 58% of respondents expressing such intentions in 2020, which fell to 51% in 2022.
Particularly concerning, the study highlighted a decline among childless young respondents. In 2022, only 29% said they wanted to have children at some point in the future, down from 39% in 2020. This suggests an increasing number of young people are choosing to remain childless permanently.
The study also found that housing situations impact child-rearing plans. Interestingly, those who owned their homes were the least likely to plan for children. In 2020, only one-third of homeowners planned to have children soon, and less than half had long-term family plans. Conversely, renters were more likely to plan for parenthood, with 55% indicating short-term plans in 2020 and 70% expressing long-term intentions.
The trend was similar among respondents with other types of housing arrangements, where 28% planned to start a family in the near future, compared to 35% among renters and 30% for those with other housing types.
Between 2021 and 2023, the average fertility rate in the Czech Republic fell from 1.83 to 1.45 children per woman. The study also showed that higher levels of education and household income were associated with broader family plans and ambitions.
Researchers are set to conduct another survey next year using the same sample to assess if there have been further changes in family planning intentions.
