DAR ES SALAAM: THE Young people are postponing marriage and parenthood because of financial and employment challenges, despite continuing to aspire to raise families, according to a new United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) report.
The report, titled: ‘Lives, Choices and Futures: What Young People Want and What Shapes Their Decisions About Relationships and Parenthood’, is based on the Demographic Futures Survey of more than 108,000 adults aged 18–39 across 73 countries.
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It found that financial security (88 per cent), stable employment (87 per cent) and emotional readiness (85 per cent) are the main factors influencing decisions on parenthood.
Economic and housing constraints were identified as the biggest barriers, with 57 per cent of respondents saying they limit opportunities to form relationships and 72 per cent citing them as the main obstacle to having children.
UNFPA Executive Director Diene Keita said young people remain optimistic but need supportive economic and social conditions to achieve their family aspirations.
The report also found that more than two-thirds of respondents still consider marriage their preferred form of partnership, while only a small minority do not want children.
However, one in four adults aged 25–39 who wish to marry or live with a partner are currently single, rising to 30 per cent among men.
Eight in ten respondents said the joy of raising children is the main reason they want to become parents, while government incentives and labour market considerations were ranked among the least important motivations.
UNFPA called on governments to address barriers by expanding employment opportunities, affordable housing, reproductive healthcare, childcare, social protection and gender equality, stressing that demographic policies should focus on enabling informed and voluntary family decisions rather than simply responding to declining fertility rates.