Why Having Kids Might be More Important Than You Think.
God • Family • Country
American needs more Americans to start having children again.
If you asked the average conservative what some of the greatest issues facing America are, they would likely tell you that China, Russia, and Iran are the biggest threats to our nation in today’s world. But one of the greatest threats to America does not come from outside; it comes from within. The issue is simple: Americans are no longer producing enough children to replace themselves.
According to the CDC, the replacement fertility rate in the United States is approximately 2.1 children per woman. This means that, on average, every woman needs to have 2.1 children in order to maintain America’s population. Our country has strayed far from that number.
In 1957, America far exceeded her replacement rate, averaging approximately 3.72 children per woman. As time passed, the fertility rate decreased. In 1960, the fertility rate was approximately 3.66 children per woman. In 1965, the number continued to drop to 2.92 children per woman. As of 2024, America had fallen beneath her replacement rate, with an average of 1.627 children per woman.
America’s fertility rate has fallen by more than half since 1960. This begs the question: how has America, the most prosperous nation in human history, reached the point where people are no longer producing enough children to replace themselves?
The first commercial birth-control pill was approved by the FDA in May 1960. Up until that point, America’s population was growing rapidly. Five years later, in 1965, the fertility rate had fallen by nearly one child per woman. According to the National Bureau of Economic Research, the introduction of the birth-control pill led to a decline in marital fertility, reducing childbearing by upwards of 21–29%.
Up until that point, sex and reproduction had always been linked. For generations, sex always carried the possibility and responsibility of children. Contraception made the separation of the two easier. Having children became scheduled, postponed, and stopped being an expected part of marriage and adulthood.
While the birth-control pill and contraception contributed to the technical side of the decline, America also experienced a cultural deemphasis on having children. Instead, society prioritized money, careers, and travel over raising a family. Instead of the cornerstone model of marriage, where two people marry young and build a life together, the capstone model became more popular. Two people would lead separate lives, pursue two different careers, and marry later in life as a final, crowning achievement.
According to the Pew Research Center, the number of Americans under 50 who said that they are unlikely to ever have children jumped from 37% in 2018 to 47% in 2023, a ten-point increase in only five years. Of those Americans, 57% say a major reason is that they simply do not want children. Forty-four percent say that they want to focus on other things, like careers and interests; 38% cite concerns about the state of the world; 36% say they cannot afford a child; 26% cite environmental concerns; and 20% say they don’t really like children. Young Americans are increasingly viewing parenthood through its costs rather than its benefits.
In 2022, 613,383 induced abortions were reported to the CDC. This figure computes to nearly 199 abortions per 1,000 births. Despite the controversial politics of abortion, it clearly has demographic consequences.
After the sharp decline in the fertility rate over the past 60 years, our population is still growing—but where is that growth coming from?
According to the Census Bureau, births outnumbered deaths by approximately 519,000 between July 2024 and July 2025. During that time, net international migration totaled 1.3 million people, nearly 2.5 times the natural increase. During 2000–2010, births exceeded deaths by nearly 1.6 to 1.9 million per year. Yet by 2017, that figure had dropped to 1.1 million, and further to 519,000 between 2024 and 2025. The Congressional Budget Office projects that beginning in 2030, the number of deaths could exceed the number of births.
President Trump famously said that if you import “The Third World,” you become “The Third World.” At a time when we are dependent on outsiders for our growth, his words remain truer than ever.
Without immigration, America’s population would be shrinking. This poses a serious threat to the United States. Yes, America is shaped by immigration, and throughout our history, immigrants have contributed greatly to our country. But there is a clear difference between immigration supplementing our population and immigration being necessary for our growth.
Charlie Kirk famously said, “Get married and have kids. You won’t regret it.” The solution to this issue is clear:
America needs Americans to start having children again.