9 in 10 Canadian women in their 20s who “practice a religion” are now childless

Canada is now among South Korea, Japan, Italy, and a small number of other “ultra-low fertility” countries, with a total fertility rate below 1.30 children per woman. As of 2024 (the most recent year where we have data), our fertility rate dropped to 1.25 children per woman. A fertility rate of 2.1 is needed to keep a population stable, while a fertility rate of 1.25 would halve the population in two generations, and leave just a quarter behind in just three. Earlier this year, Statistics Canada provided a report with more detail. Among other startling findings, they found that 9 in 10 women in their 20s do not have children. This decreases to 43.2% of women in their 30s and 23.6% in their 40s. The average age of mothers at the birth of their first child has increased to 31.8 years. In spite of these low numbers, 66% of women in their 20s who don’t have children say that they would like to in the next few years. This intention held relatively constant among those who were university graduates or not, employed or not, and married or not. In other words, while most young women say that they would like to have children, the vast majority are not receiving or pursuing this blessing in their 20s. They also found that women who “practice a religion” are more likely to have children, though that is only noticeable after the age of 30. Only 11.1% of “practicing” women in their 20s have children, which is actually lower than “non-practicing” (11.9%). How “religious” are these practicing women? The study defines practicing a religion as “participating in religious activities in the year preceding the survey, excluding events such as weddings or funerals.” That’s a very low bar, so, this category includes a lot of people who might not be making God their priority. But imagine what could happen if all God’s people did make Him and what He says our first priority? God’s first words to humanity were to “be fruitful and multiply” (Genesis 1:28). This flies in the face of the prevailing worldview of today, focused on doing what works best for me. When this is combined with contraception and abortion, the result is sex but very few children. Increasingly, the decision to welcome the gift of children, when God provides them, is one of the most counter-cultural choices to be made. But it is also the lifeline for future generations and the means by which God’s kingdom comes. Imagine what would happen if Christ’s church welcomed the gift of children, while the world continued with this trajectory....