A recent survey conducted by the Hong Kong Women Development Association (HKWDA) revealed that 71.9% of respondents are unwilling to have children, with the 19-29 age group showing the least interest in parenthood. Key factors affecting the birth rate include delayed marriage and childbirth, financial burdens, housing constraints, and workplace challenges.
HKWDA Vice Chairperson Au Yeung Po-chun highlighted that "late childbirth" has become a prevailing trend in HK. The survey, which interviewed 1,320 individuals below 50 and 960 individuals over 50, found that only 28.1% of respondents were willing to have children, marking a 2.1% increase from last year.
The willingness to have children has shifted to older age groups, with those aged 30-39 being the most likely to consider parenthood at 32.8%. Meanwhile, the proportion of unwilling respondents in other age groups has continued to decline, now standing at 23.3%.
HKWDA Deputy Secretary-General Lam Wai-ming noted that median ages for first marriages in HK, released by the government last August, were 32.5 years for men and 30.9 years for women. Additional factors contributing to the low birth rate include the high cost of raising a child, which exceeds HK$6 million up to the age of 18, cramped living conditions, and inflexible workplace policies. The median per capita living space in HK is just 172 square feet.
The survey also showed that 90% of respondents believe flexible working hours and childcare or after-school care services would help unlock women's labor potential. Beyond financial challenges, many respondents cited the time, energy, and freedom constraints associated with raising children as reasons for their reluctance to become parents.
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