Young people, their choices, and the conditions they need to shape their futures

Statement by UNFPA Executive Director Ms. Diene Keita

We are living through a time of profound demographic change. Some countries have historically large numbers of young people. Others are experiencing rapid population ageing. And many are navigating both. Societies and economies are being reshaped by intersecting crises, rising inequalities and disruptive technologies. At the same time, information and misinformation are redefining how we perceive the world around us.

How do young adults see their lives, ambitions and futures in a world of constant change? This is the question at the heart of UNFPA's recent Demographic Futures Survey. The survey is one of the largest bodies of evidence to date on young people's life goals with respect to relationships and families.

What we found is that most still hope for partnership and parenthood, yet many feel they may never see these dreams materialize. Today, fragile labour markets, widening inequalities and protracted conflict have left many young people struggling to imagine how they can build the families and futures they want.

Some people assume that younger generations have given up on marriage and children altogether. Our survey tells a different story. Most respondents say their ideal relationship involves marriage. Yet among those who want a partner, many are single and not dating. Economic and housing constraints were the most commonly cited barriers to partnership. Most of those surveyed also want children - and across most regions, two is the most common ideal family size. But many question whether they will have the stability and security to house and care for them.

In short, it is uncertainty, not unwillingness, that has young people questioning whether they can start the families they want.

In response to changing demographic trends, including ageing and low fertility, governments are exploring a wide range of policies. But policies will not succeed if they pressure people towards particular choices or fail to address the barriers young people themselves identify.

As one young community leader told us, "This isn't just about choosing to have fewer children. It's about having fewer choices."

What young people are telling us is clear: They need a sense of security to plan for their future, and the agency to carry that plan out. The onus is on leaders everywhere to support these aspirations.

With smart, forward-looking investments in their rights and choices - from housing and healthcare to parental leave and childcare support, young people can exercise autonomy over their bodies and their lives and build the futures they want. They can realize the right to make the most intimate, consequential decisions of their lives.

The world today is full of opportunities, not only challenges. Communities and economies will innovate, develop resilience and thrive when young people can, too.

Young people - from North to South, from East to West - have spoken. It's time to listen. And it is time to help create the conditions that allow them to make real choices, create the families they want and realize their hopes and aspirations.