Canada’s fertility rate remains near a historic low as changing lifestyles, delayed parenthood and shifting attitudes toward family life reshape the country’s demographic future. According to Statistics Canada, the country’s total fertility rate stood at 1.26 children per woman in 2025, matching the record-low level recorded in 2024. The long-term decline has raised concerns about population ageing, future workforce availability and the sustainability of public services. The total fertility rate estimates the number of children a woman would have over her lifetime if current age-specific birth rates continued. Canada’s rate has fallen considerably over the past two decades, declining from 1.69 children per woman in 2009 to 1.26 in 2025. Changing lifestyles are among the factors associated with the decline. Women are increasingly pursuing higher education, participating in the workforce and establishing careers before having children. Social attitudes toward marriage, relationships and parenthood have also evolved, giving people greater flexibility in deciding whether and when to start a family. Statistics Canada has identified higher educational attainment, increased labour-force participation, changing social norms and widespread access to contraception as factors contributing to changing family trajectories. These developments have created more varied pathways through adulthood, including choosing to have children later in life or remaining child-free. Economic pressures are another important consideration. The cost of housing, childcare and everyday living expenses can make raising children financially challenging, particularly for younger adults who are trying to establish themselves professionally and secure stable accommodation. For many prospective parents, the decision to have children is influenced not only by their desire to start a family but also by whether they believe they can afford to do so. Concerns about employment stability, housing availability and work-life balance can lead people to delay having children or reconsider how many children they want. Statistics Canada research has previously found that affordability, access to suitable housing, childcare and adequate parental leave can influence people’s plans to have children. These pressures do not affect everyone equally, but they form part of the broader context in which fertility decisions are made. The age at which Canadians become parents has also continued to rise. In 2025, the average age of mothers at childbirth reached a record high of 31.9 years, compared with 26.7 years in 1976. Delaying parenthood can mean that some people have fewer children than they initially intended, while others may decide not to have children at all. The proportion of women without children also reflects these changing patterns. Statistics Canada reported in its analysis of 2024 data that just over half of women aged 20 to 49 had no children. This figure includes women who may still have children in the future, as well as those who have chosen not to become parents or who face circumstances that make parenthood difficult.
However, a low fertility rate does not necessarily mean Canadians no longer want children. Statistics Canada research released in April 2026 found that 46 per cent of Canadians aged 15 to 49 who did not already have all the biological children they wanted said they intended to have at least one child in the future in 2024, up from 41 per cent in 2021. Among Canadians who had no biological children, 58 per cent said they planned to have children.
The difference between people’s intentions and the number of children they eventually have highlights the role that personal circumstances and financial conditions can play in family planning. Canada’s fertility decline is part of a wider international trend. Many high-income countries have experienced falling birth rates as education levels rise, urban living becomes more common and people delay marriage and parenthood. In 2025, Canada ranked among countries with relatively low fertility rates, although its rate was higher than that of some countries experiencing even more pronounced declines. The demographic consequences could be significant if low fertility continues over the long term. A smaller number of births can contribute to population ageing, increasing the proportion of older people relative to the working-age population. This can place additional pressure on healthcare services, retirement systems and the labour market.
A shrinking share of working-age people could also create recruitment challenges in certain industries and increase the importance of productivity growth, immigration and workforce participation. However, fertility rates alone do not determine population growth, which is also influenced by immigration, emigration and life expectancy. Immigration has played an important role in Canada’s population and birth trends. In 2024, more than two in five newborns had a mother who was born outside Canada, demonstrating the significant contribution of foreign-born women to the country’s births.
Policymakers face the challenge of responding to demographic change while respecting individual choices about family life. Measures such as more affordable housing, accessible childcare, parental leave and flexible workplace arrangements are often discussed as ways to reduce barriers for people who want to have children. Experts also caution against treating a higher birth rate as a simple measure of social or economic success. Decisions about parenthood are personal, and any policy response must account for people’s circumstances, preferences and ability to provide for their families. With Canada’s fertility rate remaining at 1.26 children per woman in 2025, the latest figures suggest that the country has yet to see a sustained recovery in births. The trend reflects a combination of changing lifestyles, delayed parenthood, evolving social expectations and practical barriers to raising children. How Canada responds to these changes could influence its future workforce, public services and demographic balance for decades to come.