On Demographic Winter, Media Finally Get a Clue
Regarding the May 24 New York Times article, “Long Slide Looms for World Population,” Ruth Institute President Dr. Jennifer Roback Morse, Ph.D., said,
“The mainstream media is finally starting to get that Demographic Winter is a reality.”
The Times reports:
“All over the world, countries are confronting population stagnation and a fertility bust, a dizzying reversal unmatched in human history that will make first birthday parties a rarer sight than funerals, and empty homes a common eyesore.
“Like an avalanche, the demographic forces — pushing toward more deaths than births — seem to be expanding and accelerating.”
The article also notes:
- The combination of longer lives and lower fertility is leading to fewer workers and more retirees, putting a severe strain on pension systems.
- Because China will begin experiencing population decline, and Nigeria will continue growing due to larger family size, by the end of the century, Nigeria could have more people than China.
- Once worldwide population decline begins, it could lead to a population freefall.
- Countries like the U.S., Australia and Canada, with birthrates between 1.5 and 2 (with 2.1 needed to replace current population), have lessened the impact with immigration.
- In 1992, South Korea had 900,000 18-year-olds. Today the number is 500,000.
- An article in The Lancet speculates that by 2100, 183 out of 195 countries and territories will have fertility rates below replacement.
- In Europe, incentives like baby bonuses and subsidised child care have had only a temporary impact on declining fertility.
“But there’s still a lot the media misses,” said Ruth Inst. Coalitions Director Don Feder.
“The biggest factors driving falling fertility are the decline of marriage and religious observance. In the United States, the fertility rate has dropped from 3.5 in the 1950s to 1.9 today. Among adults in the prime childbearing years of 18 to 24, 45% were married in 1960, but only 9% were in 2016.”
Feder will speak on Demographic Winter at the Ruth Institute’s Survivors’ Summit, “Reclaiming the Professions for Life and Family,” July 16-17 in Lake Charles, LA, USA.
[Photo by Johnny Cohen on Unsplash]Recent Articles:
7 August 2026
4.3 MINS
Christians without a listed denomination may be among millions miscounted as having “no religion” in the 2026 census, modelling from a Sydney analytics firm suggests.
7 August 2026
2 MINS
On Wednesday night, the Canberra Declaration officially launched our prayer campaign for babies born alive and left to die after an abortion. We were honoured to have 10 special guest speakers, including the Hon Llew O'Brien MP for Wide Bay, Queensland. Sign up for daily devotionals today!
7 August 2026
2.7 MINS
Child sexual exploitation is closer to home than most Australians realise. Christians are called to respond with more than shock — through prayer, generosity and courageous action.
7 August 2026
5.9 MINS
Falling birth rates, lonely young men, exploited young women — the symptoms are everywhere. To save Australia, we must return to the Christian centre our nation has spent decades dismantling.
7 August 2026
2.7 MINS
A new Concerned Women for America poll finds voters increasingly favour conservative positions on abortion, gender ideology and children's content ahead of the midterm elections.
6 August 2026
2.4 MINS
One Nation has built its appeal on personality rather than policy detail. A recent pitch from Pauline Hanson covered immigration, child care and Net Zero — but will she deliver on it?
6 August 2026
3.3 MINS
Facing closure, St Mary's church congregation has refused to surrender. The 900-year-old medieval building's dedicated parish has secured a crucial heritage grant to begin its long-overdue restoration.
