Childfree Adults Are Twice As Common In California And Michigan As In Louisiana And The Dakotas

Childfree Population Varies Widely Across U.S. States, Study Finds

A new analysis of more than 20,000 adults reveals that the proportion of adults who have chosen not to have children differs sharply from one state to another. In California and Michigan, roughly one in five adults are childfree, whereas in Louisiana and the Dakotas the figure drops to about one in ten.

Nationwide Survey Provides First State-Level Estimates

The research, published in PLOS One, draws on data from the Civic Health and Institutions Project (CHIP). The project’s surveys, conducted in 2024, distinguish between individuals who are childfree, those who intend to have children later, and those who are unable to have children.

Cost of Living and Reproductive Policies Play a Minor Role

While higher living costs and stronger protections for reproductive rights correlate with larger childfree populations, the study finds that personal factors—such as marital status and age—exert a far greater influence on an adult’s decision to remain childfree, according to coauthor Zachary Neal, a psychology professor at Michigan State University.

Implications for State Demographics

Some states experiencing population decline, including California and Michigan, cannot rely on policy changes that lower living expenses, increase education funding, or modify abortion regulations to convert childfree residents into parents, notes coauthor Jennifer Watling Neal.

Future Directions

The authors stress the need for additional research to uncover the causal mechanisms behind childfree choices at the state level. They also plan to examine how the social networks of childfree adults differ from those of parents.