NZPPD launches State of the World Population report 2025 revealing the real fertility crisis
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Forced into parenthood – or shut out of it? UNFPA report reveals how people are making reproductive decisions based on economic and social factors.
On 14 October 2025 the New Zealand Parliamentarians Group on Population and Development (NZPPD) launched the State of the World Population published by UNFPA, the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency.
The 2025 report, titled The Real Fertility Crisis – The Pursuit of Reproductive Agency in a Changing World, found that while in some countries, such as New Zealand, fertility is declining – in others, populations are growing and there are high rates of adolescent births. While this appears paradoxical, the report revealed that across the globe, people’s reproductive decisions are being undermined by economic and social barriers.
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Left to right: Catherine Wedd (MP for Tukituki and Chair of NZPPD), Dr. Vanessa Weenink (MP for Banks Peninsula and member of NZPPD), Tomoko Kurokawa (UNFPA Regional Humanitarian Advisor for Asia and the Pacific), Lemauga Lydia Sosene (MP for Mangere and Deputy Chair of NZPPD), Jackie Edmond (Sexual Wellbeing Aoteroa Chief Executive).
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The opening statement, delivered by Ms Tomoko Kurokawa, UNFPA Regional Humanitarian Advisor for Asia and the Pacific on behalf of the UNFPA Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, Mr Pio Smith, highlighted that “the real fertility crisis is not about ‘too few’ or ‘too many’ births. It’s about whether people can choose whether to start or grow a family on their own terms.”
The barriers to achieving ideal family size
The report found that most people want two or more children, but:
- 43% of people over 50 did not achieve their ideal family size
- 31% of people had fewer children than ideal
- 12% of people had more children than ideal
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- 39% of people reported that financial limitations had affected or would affect their ability to realize their desired family size
- Nearly 1 in 5 people said fears about the future, such as climate change, environmental degradation, wars and pandemics, would lead or had led to them having fewer children than desired
- Nearly 1 in 4 have felt unable to fulfil their desire for a child at their preferred time
What’s the solution?
The report concludes that the solution to this crisis lies in reproductive agency. This means establishing the right conditions for people to make a true choice about whether they have children – who with, when, and how many. This includes:
- Freedom from coercion
- Reproductive health and rights for all
- Consistent, long-term support for parents and families
- Ending gender-based violence
- Ending gender-discriminatory norms that undermine fertility ambitions
Last week's event in Wellington was hosted by the NZPPD Chair Catherine Wedd and supported by Sexual Wellbeing Aotearoa.
Learn more about UNFPA
Learn more about UNFPA’s work in Asia and the Pacific:
Read the full report