The real reason fertility is falling

Published April 13, 2026 2:00pm ET



The fertility rate fell again in 2025, according to preliminary numbers released last week by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, hitting a new record low. The Congressional Budget Office now estimates that deaths will begin to outnumber births in 2030, slowing economic growth and putting financial strain on Social Security and Medicare.

Falling fertility is not just an economic or cultural issue. It is an existential one. If we are failing to reproduce, we are failing to project our nation and its values into the future. If we do not fix fertility, we will cease to exist.

Already a print subscriber? Click here to login/register your account

Trusted reporting.Unlimited access.

Subscribe for full access to Washington Examiner coverage, expert political analysis, and subscriber-only journalism.

Get Unlimited Access

Already a member? Log in

Cancel anytime.