Concerned about depopulation

[Shawlshare]

AIBU to think the threat of depopulation is being massively underestimated in the UK?

I am early 50s, 3 kids and have lots of friends, young professionals in their 30s involved in the same hobby as me and nobody is having kids. Nobody wants them. People can’t afford accommodation big enough for kids, cannot afford childcare and find day to day life trying to stay ahead of the cost of living crisis tiring enough. They want to spend the weekend doing what they want to do, which is fair enough, but the UK will rapidly become extinct if this goes on for long.

South Korea is likely to become extinct as a country within 4 generations do to similar issues. I can see the UK going the same way. It’s scary and sad. I can’t see it reversing though as any hint of free childcare / flexible working etc etc is politically unpopular with so many. Anyone else concerned? What’s the solution?

@Genevieva yes, I think financial security is much harder these days and you can't really do bad in school, doss about and then sort your life out and find success (there will be exceptions). Wages are crap here and so much competition so my dc need to be on it.

Yes the population has risen hugely in last century and we’re seeing volatility and wars. Fighting over resources is worse than some adjustment.

Especially now AI will change work requirements anyway.

There is another reason

in uk like 1 in 10 women experience endometriosis

the average time to be diagnosed is like 6-8 years. For many I know it was 20 years.

many girls suffer in extreme pain to be fobbed off or just given stronger painkillers and just put on birth control

they then learn they have when it’s too late and endo has progressed and affected their fertility

i know so many with this including my sister who after years of suffering and bc, learned she had stage 4 endo when she started trying for a baby

reddit is full of young women trying to get diagnosed, and experiencing infertility. Lap operation costs like 5k privately which many can’t afford to even go private

i recently learned the nhs don’t even do laparoscopy to remove it anymore. Just put on bc

@LeftieRightsHoarder why won't people be fighting over natural resources just because the West has a smaller but ageing population? Developing younger countries will start to see their economies grow further, become more powerful and will want their share. Isn't India predicted to be the 2nd richest economy in 20 years?

It’s such a stress. One of mine is deeply dyslexic and I feel constantly guilty about working fulltime and not having time to provide the help I provide to my own students. I also get a bit frustrated that her school is not ‘on it’ with ensuring all their teachers are supported in providing an organised curriculum for GCSE teaching and learning. It’s really not hard. She’s had teachers in two for subjects on long term sick leave with a different cover teacher every lesson. I’m going to have to teach myself and then teach her over the summer while it’s not too late, or she will fail next year and not get into sixth form.

@vinavine
I was replying to you but somehow didn’t.

@Genevieva I'm not talking about the financial benefits just the indignation. If people don't want to lose out on £200-£300 then they really aren't going to be up for paying more towards their social & healthcare.

The actual birth rate isn't in decline, it's just become more differentiated.

What does this mean @Beautifulweeds?

@Genevieva sorry to hear that.

Fighting over resources is worse than some adjustment.

@EasternStandard but an aging population will increase inequality & put more strain on public services. Why won't this lead to increased conflict?

Don't worry, OP, there are plenty of influencers cranking them out for the social media clicks and revenue. It's a very lucrative industry.

@BadDinner very interesting, we may also need less people as ai takes hold and more jobs are done by bots and ai
In a blink ai has bedtime people's counselors, sp, lawyer's and even fixed medically knowledge.
All in last 18 months ISH.

Poorer communities maybe the fore front of re-creation

I don’t disagree but the fact most people on this thread don’t even realise there is an issue is a good indication of how little we currently talk about this issue.

as for pro natal policies, it’s difficult (they don’t work!) - this is an interesting podcast; https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/ifs-zooms-in-the-economy/id1511294104?i=1000676221323

That’s understandable, but the option is there for women to have a baby if they really want to have one, it’s just that most (rightly) don’t want to do it in sub-optimal circumstances. The idea that 25% of women not having children is some sort of tragedy because they actually really wanted them but ‘ran out of time’ is far fetched. Many simply prioritise other personal accomplishments over starting a family, which is fine.

What I mean is differences between cultures and how the view, aspiration of the amount of children they would like to have.

Just from my own experience and supported statistically, in a completely non judgemental way as i love them all. My friends who are from Ghana, Kenya, Pakistan, Persia, Bangladesh, India, Kurdistan and many other different countries who have moved to the UK have all wanted and have big families and have them. One friend came over from Pakistan at age 18 and became pregnant and is now ready to have her 5th baby, her sister also came over and is pregnant with her 4th child. They are wonderful mothers but live in a house where their only role is to bring up children and have little freedom and can't speak English, my role is to help them with that.

On the flip side, yes long time British, not just white, are choosing to have less no children because of growing up here and understanding the costs and also the freedom of choosing. Of course there is still a lot of teenage pregnancies and big families due to upbringing amongst generations but this isn't the norm.

So when I said differentiated, it's just that. Some cultures believe in big families, some don't. No wrong or right, personally I would prefer a village to struggling alone, but it comes down to whether forced or not.

Oh whoo that was a long response!

Keep whatever coming, I'm the most open minded person ever, I do however see real life. Xxx

I wasn't even ready to contemplate having a baby until I was 30. Was far more invested in my own fun life and career.

In my social circle 30 is very young to be thinking about a baby! I’m 35 and still prioritising fun, but tbh I’m still on the fence about having a baby at all, never mind when. My friend who says she wants one is 40 and doesn’t seem to be in any rush (she just got back from an amazing extended trip in Asia). Perhaps some women subconsciously make the decision to run out of time, if that makes sense. Like they want the decision taken out of their hands as it’s easier than making a definite decision either way? Just a thought!

YANBU, OP. Other than climate change, depopulation is perhaps the biggest issue facing the world.

South Korea (most accutely) and Japan are heading towards societal collapse in the next generation or two. The UK would also be, had we not mitigated the issue via high immigration, but that is not a viable long-term solution (and of course, is quite unpopular).

It is already something of a problem in the UK and, if not addressed, will start to become a crisis in the not-too-distant future.

@Beautifulweeds I still don't understand how you are saying the birth rate isn't declining?

Yabu

Think how many people miserably bred before us because they had no choice

I'm so glad I didn't have to and I don't I why anyone does

I think there are going to be a lot of single childless people in their 40s in ten years time due to modern dating culture ie dating apps, rise of cost of living etc.

Child free, thanks 😉

Why in 10 years’ time? There are a hell of a lot of child-free people in their 40s now.

Darn skippy

I just think the trend is going to go up over the next decade for the reasons I put forward being exasperated.