The problem of low birth rates is not limited to Korea, but also appears in Canada. According to Statistics Canada, Canada’s birth rate will hit an all-time low of 1.26 in 2023. This puts Canada in the ranks of countries with extremely low birth rates, along with Korea and Japan.
The declining birth rate is influenced by a combination of factors, including rising living costs, anxiety about environmental issues, and delayed childbirth. In the past, extended families were considered the ideal family model, but now having fewer children has become a cultural trend.
Lisa Stroshein, a sociology professor at the University of Alberta, said, “You don’t need to have many children to find meaning in life.” According to a survey by the Pew Research Centre in the United States, 47% of childless American adults responded that they do not plan to have children. A similar trend is observed in Canada, with younger generations wanting fewer children. Meanwhile, 45% of Canadian families have one child, which is analysed as a tendency to focus more investment and resources on children.
Due to the financial burden and child-rearing time issues, more and more parents are choosing to have fewer children. Professor Stroshein warned that if the birth rate continues to decline, Canada could also become a place where one-child families are the ideal form.