“Baby Bust”: The Impact of COVID-19 on Declining Fertility Rates

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U.S. and global fertility rates have been in decline for years and the COVID-19 pandemic has amplified this trend—possibly with lasting consequences, particularly for women. Decreasing fertility rates and lower desire to have children can have serious implications on economic growth. The “baby bust” also has implications for population dynamics in the years to come – fewer births in the next few years could lead to less support as today’s workforce hits retirement age. To ensure the health and longevity of our societies, it is imperative that policy makers account for these trends when creating legislation impacting social safety nets, support for caregivers, and reproductive health services.

Please join the Wilson Center’s Maternal Health Initiative, in collaboration with EMD Serono, the healthcare business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, for a panel discussion highlighting U.S. and global fertility trends pre-COVID-19 and the further implications of COVID-19 on demographic trends. Our expert panel will focus on the causes of declining birthrates; the impact of the pandemic; the implications of decreasing fertility rates for economic growth, social support systems, and caregiving; and possible policy interventions to address these issues; as well as discuss what these economic, demographic, and social shifts mean for women more broadly. 

Send questions for our panelists during the event to mhi@wilsoncenter.org. Follow the conversation on Twitter at @Wilson_MHI & @EMDSerono and on Instagram at @MaternalHealthInitiative using the hashtag #MHDialogue. Find more coverage of these issues on our blog, NewSecurityBeat.org/Dot-Mom.