Childfree people are more common in some states than others

Researchers have discovered that childfree individuals are more prevalent in certain states across the United States. Zachary Neal, a professor of psychology at Michigan State University and coauthor of the study, highlights that "we’ve known that childfree adults were a large and growing group in the United States, but not whether they were concentrated in certain places."

The study, published in PLOS One and utilizing data from the Civic Health and Institutions Project (CHIP), analyzed surveys from over 20,000 adults in all 50 states in 2024. This allowed researchers to differentiate between childfree adults, those planning future children, and those unable to conceive. The findings reveal that while being childfree is more common in states with higher costs of living, individual factors such as marital status and age have a stronger influence on this decision.

Jennifer Watling Neal, another coauthor and professor of psychology at MSU, notes that "state factors like cost of living and reproductive rights are less significant than personal characteristics." Some states, like California and Michigan, are experiencing population declines, but Neal suggests that efforts to lower costs, increase education spending, or alter abortion restrictions are unlikely to prompt childless residents to have children.

The study emphasizes the necessity for further investigation into the causal factors behind individuals' choice to remain childfree. Watling Neal adds that "although some states have large childfree populations, they remain a hidden group because their decision not to have children goes against a strong social norm." The researchers are now investigating how childfree adults' social networks differ from those of parents using the gathered data.