According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Ohio experienced a marginal population increase of 0.22 percent from 2022 to 2023. However, the long-term projections indicate that the state’s population will continue to decline, following a trend that has persisted for decades. Despite the slight increase, Ohio has lost 13,300 residents since pre-pandemic times.
According to the Ohio Population Projections Report 2023, the state’s population is expected to decline by 5.7 percent by 2050, resulting in a reduction of 675,000 people. The report highlights the aging population, decreasing fertility rates, and stagnant migration patterns as contributing factors. In fact, the state’s population has already decreased by 10 percent between 2010 and 2020, as per the report.
According to Wendy Diane Manning, a sociologist at Bowling Green State University, Ohio is a reflection of the rest of the country. She points out that Ohio’s decline in fertility rate is in line with the nationwide trend.
According to census projections, the nation is expected to experience a decline in population growth due to the projected number of deaths surpassing the number of births between 2038 and 2042. To maintain population levels, international immigration will play a crucial role. In Ohio, there was a net gain of 60,000 immigrants from both domestic and international sources between 2010 and 2020, marking the first decade of net positive gain in immigration since the 1950s.
According to Sandra Johnson, a demographer at the Census Bureau, there have been significant changes in the components of population change in the United States over the past five years. While some changes, such as the rise in mortality due to the pandemic, may be temporary, others like the long-standing decrease in fertility rates are expected to persist in the future.
The state of Ohio faced a daunting challenge during the pandemic as the number of deaths surpassed the number of births. Shockingly, in 2020, the state recorded the highest number of deaths in a single year, with approximately 143,600 residents passing away. Unfortunately, the number of deaths continued to rise in 2021, reaching 147,500.
Communities need to go through a lot of turmoil to adapt, despite the calmness of the numbers written in black and white. The United States has already experienced some of this upheaval.
Experts in population studies are linking the decline in childbirth rates to global advancements in urbanization and the rise in women’s education. While economic factors continue to play a role, there has also been a shift in subjective attitudes developed over the last few decades.
The authors of Empty Planet, who are from Canada, emphasize a singular idea throughout their work: when a woman is given the necessary information and independence to make an informed and self-directed decision about when and how many children to have, she tends to have fewer children and have them later in life.
The 21st century marks a significant shift in the landscape of family planning, encompassing a wide range of factors, including access to abortion drugs and procedures, the availability of in vitro fertilization, and a cultural shift towards personal fulfillment. Despite these changes, family planning remains a contentious issue in Ohio and beyond, with conflicting opinions and ongoing debates.
According to Ms. Manning, who co-directs the National Center for Family & Marriage Research, couples’ family planning decisions are heavily influenced by their subjective feelings following the Great Recession and now exacerbated by the pandemic.
Ms. Manning noted that the decline has been ongoing for quite some time. She explained that individuals of child-bearing age continue to feel the impact of the Great Recession from 2007 to 2009. They remember the difficulties their parents experienced during that period, and this has affected their decision to have children.
The pandemic has disrupted job expectations, leaving many young people feeling uncertain about their economic future. The prevailing belief that their parents’ quality of life cannot be surpassed has further eroded their trust. When you factor in the exorbitant cost of child care, raising a baby becomes a daunting financial commitment.
Ms. Manning noted that combining work and family can be challenging for women, especially since people are now waiting longer to tie the knot and start a family.
Ms. Manning believes that having two children is still the ideal situation.
She stated that individuals are waiting longer to have children since everything is not yet in place, and they do not feel comfortable doing so.
According to the Ohio Population Projections Report 2023, the number of babies born to Ohio mothers in 2020 was approximately 129,300, which is the lowest figure recorded since at least 1950. This represents a 4% decrease from 2019. While it’s possible that the pandemic may have caused a temporary drop in fertility rates, the report suggests that this decline was already in progress and was only exacerbated by the pandemic.
Ohio State University’s Institute for Population Research is directed by Sarah Hayford, a sociologist who also observes similar sentiments being expressed.
According to Ms. Hayford, one of the reasons for the decline in birth rates is that individuals are starting families later in life. She points out that many individuals are now choosing to have children in their late 20s or early 30s as opposed to their early 20s. It remains to be seen whether birth rates will increase in the future as individuals “catch up” on the children they didn’t have earlier in life, or if birth rates will continue to decline, resulting in fewer children over a person’s lifetime.
Ms. Hayford suggests that one of the motives behind delaying starting a family is to ensure financial stability, which may involve securing a steady job or purchasing a home.
According to her, individuals could have heightened expectations for what defines a good parent, and they might delay having children until they meet those expectations. Moreover, cultural changes have resulted in people feeling contented without having children. It’s no longer a compulsory aspect of adulthood for everyone.
There are those who argue that the rise in fertility rates during the Baby Boomer era was merely a temporary phenomenon. They believe that the current trend reflects a return to more typical levels, without the influence of a post-war population eager to commemorate their victory with a surge in childbirth, homeownership, and idyllic suburban living.
The fertility rate in the United States is currently at an all-time low, as reported by the National Center for Health Statistics at the CDC. Although there was a slight 1% increase from 2020 to 2021, the rate has steadily declined by 2% from 2014 to 2020.
According to a study funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, global fertility rates are projected to decline significantly by 2100. The study indicates that 97 percent of countries will have fertility rates below the level required to maintain a stable population. This suggests a future of low fertility rates worldwide. The study was conducted in 2024 and provides insights into the potential challenges that future generations may face in terms of population sustainability.
Dr. Natalia V. Bhattacharjee, who is a co-lead author of the study and lead research scientist at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington’s School of Medicine, emphasized the enormity of the implications of these findings. She stated that the future trends in fertility rates and live births will have a significant impact on the global economy and the international balance of power, and will require the reorganization of societies.
According to a report by the United Nations, even the most populous countries in the world are expected to experience a significant decline in their population. The report suggests that China’s population started to decline in 2022 and is anticipated to hit 1.4 billion in 2023. By 2100, it is estimated that this number will drop by at least 50%, leaving the population at around 770 million. On the other hand, India has already surpassed China’s population by approximately three million individuals. The U.N. report predicts that India’s population will reach its peak at 1.7 billion people in 2064.
According to Aliaksandr Amialchuk, a professor of economics at the University of Toledo, fertility rates have been decreasing for some time now. The reasons for this are multifaceted and complex, with various factors contributing to the overall decline.
According to him, job and housing markets in the United States lack stability, which poses a challenge. Additionally, the cost of child care is a major concern, and it can be quite daunting.
He expressed that the economy does have an impact on the decision to have children. He emphasized that the choice to start a family is not an easy one.
