The proportion of Americans who do not have and do not want children has grown significantly, with the share of childfree adults among nonparents ages 15 to 44 rising from 13.8% in 2002 to 29.4% in 2023, according to the National Survey of Family Growth.
A study published in PLOS One by researchers from Michigan State University analyzed survey data from more than 20,000 U.S. adults collected between August and October 2024 to examine where childfree populations are concentrated. The researchers found substantial geographic variation, with California reporting the highest share at 22%, followed by Michigan at 19.9% and New Hampshire at 19.4%. North and South Dakota, along with Louisiana, had the lowest shares, at 10% or below.
While childfree populations were more common in densely populated states with high costs of living, individual demographic traits proved to be stronger predictors of whether someone would remain childfree. Being single, older, and male were among the characteristics most closely associated with being childfree, the study noted.
The researchers concluded that state-level factors such as abortion laws, public education quality, and economic conditions play a limited role in determining childfree populations. Individual characteristics rather than state policies are more important in predicting whether someone will remain childfree, and the effectiveness of state initiatives aimed at encouraging population growth is likely to be constrained, the authors said.
