More than 60% of unmarried adults under the age of 30 in Japan say they do not want children, citing economic burdens and career disruption, according to a recent survey conducted by Rohto Pharmaceutical. The company’s online poll of 400 unmarried men and women between 18 and 29 years old found that 62.6% expressed no desire to become parents in 2025, marking an 18-point increase from 2020, when the survey first asked the question.
For the first time, the percentage of women unwilling to have children surpassed that of men. Nearly 65% of female respondents reported reluctance to start a family, the highest rate recorded in the survey, while 60.7% of men shared the same sentiment. Financial concerns were particularly pronounced among women, with over 70% expressing worries about the costs associated with raising a child, compared with 63.2% of men. Career disruption was another major factor, with 61.4% of women fearing that having children would impede professional growth, versus 51.2% of men.
Even those who remain open to parenthood are postponing it. Among single respondents interested in having children, the age at which they hope to have their first child has increased sharply. In 2018, nearly 40% of this group planned to become parents by age 30, but by 2025, only one in four held that goal.
The survey also included 800 married individuals aged 25 to 44 who are considering children. More than 60% of women and half of men said parenthood would disrupt their careers, with many indicating they would consider changing jobs or positions to accommodate family responsibilities.
Experts say these attitudes reflect Japan’s rapidly declining birth rate. In 2025, the number of newborns fell to a record low of 705,809—reaching a level previously projected for 2040, according to preliminary data from the Ministry of Health. The findings highlight a generational shift in priorities, as financial and professional concerns increasingly outweigh traditional expectations around family life.
