Baby bust: Canada's fertility rate crashes to all-time low

By zoeysky // 2025-10-04

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Canada's fertility rate has fallen to 1.25 children per woman, which is far below the 2.1 rate needed for the population to replace itself without immigration. This places the country in the category of "ultra-low fertility" nations.
The decline is not confined to one area but is a country-wide phenomenon. Nine out of ten provinces and all three territories hit record-low birth rates in 2024, with British Columbia having the lowest at 1.02.
This is not a sudden change but the result of a steady decline that began in 2009. It marks a dramatic shift from the past, such as the 1959 baby boom, and is accompanied by people choosing to have children much later in life.
A continuously low birth rate leads to a shrinking workforce, which can stifle economic growth. It also places a heavy strain on healthcare and pension systems as the population ages, threatening the stability of communities.
Canada's situation reflects a global trend, particularly among developed nations. The primary reason people are having fewer children is financial pressure, including unaffordable housing, inadequate childcare and general economic instability, which makes starting a family feel daunting.

For the second consecutive year, Canada's birth rate has plummeted to a historic low – cementing a worrying demographic trend with profound implications for the nation's future. New data from Statistics Canada reveals a country where the pitter-patter of little feet is becoming increasingly rare, pushing Canada further into the ranks of "ultra-low fertility" nations and signaling a potential population crisis. The numbers are stark. In 2024, Canada's official fertility rate fell to 1.25 children per woman, down from 1.26 in 2023. This figure is far below the replacement level of 2.1 children per woman required for a population to sustain itself without immigration. The decline is not isolated to one region; it is a national phenomenon. Nine of Canada's ten provinces and all three territories saw record-low fertility rates in 2024. This is not a sudden collapse but the continuation of a slow and steady decline that began in 2009. British Columbia leads this downward spiral with a rate of just 1.02, followed by Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. Even provinces with traditionally higher rates, like Saskatchewan and Manitoba, are now well below the replacement threshold. The contrast with the past is dramatic. In 1959, at the peak of the baby boom, the average Canadian woman had nearly four children. The cultural and medical revolutions of the 1960s, including the decriminalization of the birth control pill, initiated a fundamental shift in family planning. Today, the landscape is completely transformed. Not only are women having fewer children, but they are also having them later. The average age for childbearing has risen to a record high of 31.8 years, compared to 26.7 in 1976. The consequences of this trend are multifaceted and severe. A sustained low birth rate means a shrinking native-born workforce, which can stifle economic growth, increase the burden on healthcare and pension systems as the population ages and challenge the very fabric of communities. In total, only 368,928 babies were born in Canada from 2024 to 2025. Academic institutions, such as the Macdonald-Laurier Institute, have labeled the drop in fertility a "major public policy challenge requiring immediate federal action." (Related: From DEADLY VACCINES to LIVER-DECIMATING Tylenol, pregnant women have been warned across the board.)

A global pattern of population decline

Canada's situation is a microcosm of a much larger, global story. This is a universal issue affecting both developing and industrialized nations. Member countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), a group of mostly high-income nations, have seen their average fertility rate halved since 1960, falling from 3.3 to just 1.5 children per woman. The OECD warns that this demographic shift "will change the face of societies, communities and families" and poses a significant risk to "economic growth and prosperity." The reasons behind this global retreat from childbearing are complex and deeply rooted in modern life. A United Nations survey identified "financial limitations" as the most common reason people have fewer children than they originally planned. Constraints on employment, unaffordable housing and inadequate child-care support create a formidable barrier to starting a family. In an era shadowed by the aftermath of a global pandemic and widespread economic instability, the transition to parenthood has become a complicated and daunting prospect for millions. The path forward is uncertain. While some governments promote immigration to fill demographic gaps, the root causes of low fertility remain unaddressed. Policy experts point to solutions such as robust parental leave, affordable and high-quality child care and housing policies that support young families. The goal is to create an environment where people who wish to have children feel financially and socially secure enough to do so. For Canada, and for the world, the continued plunge in birth rates is more than a statistic; it is a fundamental reordering of society. The empty cribs of today forecast the empty classrooms, strained healthcare systems and economically stagnant tomorrows. Without a concerted effort to understand and reverse this trend, the echo of the baby bust will be heard for generations to come. Canada's demographic situation reflects a global trend, particularly among developed nations. The primary reason people are having fewer children is financial pressure, and factors such as unaffordable housing, inadequate childcare and general economic instability make starting a family a daunting prospect, according to Brighteon.AI's Enoch AI engine. Watch Dr. Andrew Kaufman explaining why overpopulation is a lie and why fertility decline is the real problem. This video is from the What is happening channel on Brighteon.com.

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A global pattern of population decline

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