What is the main cause of declining fertility rates in the United States?

According to the study, rising housing costs since 1990 are responsible for 51% of the total fertility rate decline between the 2000s and 2010s.

How much have rents increased in the U.S. since 1990?

Rents across the country have risen by 149% since 1990, outpacing the overall inflation rate of 103% over the same period.

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Rent Hikes Blamed for Over 50% of U.S. Fertility Decline

Q: What impact have high rents had on family formation in the U.S.?

The analysis shows that high rents not only directly increase the cost of having children, but also push families into living arrangements less conducive to child-rearing, such as house-sharing.

13 Nov, 2025

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Summary

Rising housing costs since 1990 responsible for 51% of fertility rate drop
Rents up 149% since 1990, more than inflation
Fewer young families in 2010s due to high rents

Rent Hikes Blamed for Over 50% of U.S. Fertility Decline

According to a recent study, the rising cost of housing has been a major driver behind the declining birth rate in the United States over the past two decades. The research, conducted by Benjamin K. Couillard, a doctoral candidate at the University of Toronto, reveals that the surge in housing costs since 1990 was responsible for 51% of the total fertility rate decline between the 2000s and 2010s.

Rents across the country have skyrocketed by 149% since 1990, outpacing the overall inflation rate of 103% over the same period. This sharp increase in housing expenses has had a significant impact on family formation and fertility. Couillard's analysis shows that high rents not only directly raise the cost of having children, but also push families into living arrangements less conducive to child-rearing, such as house-sharing.