Is having children really cost-prohibitive?

Published November 14, 2025 8:28am ET



The Pew Research Center published a new report last week on the cohort affectionately known as “DINKs,” which stands for “dual income, no kids.” Pew’s analysis defined DINKs as having at least one spouse in their 30s or 40s, two incomes, and no children.

DINKs account for 12% of married couples in the United States, a percentage that has increased from 8% over the past decade. Most DINK couples are college-educated, work full-time, and have higher household incomes than dual-income couples with children.

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