Silly Phillie is concerned about the falling Fertility Rate here in the USA and around the world. Fewer babies being born means fewer baby gifts. This is discouraging news for all businesses that rely on a healthy Fertility Rate for business survival.
How Much has the Fertility Rate dropped?
In 1950 the global Fertility Rate-the average number of children a women gives birth to-was 4.7. That number in 2017 fell by almost 50% to 2.4 children. Moreover, the Fertility Rate is expected to decline even further to just 1.7 by 2100. Please visit The Lancet to see the results of a study on Fertility by Researchers at the University of Washington’s Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation.
Importantly, a Fertility Rate of just 1.7 is below the 2.1 needed to maintain the number of people on the planet. Consequently, the population in many countries will fall precipitously. For example, the population in China by the year 2100 is expected to drop from the current 1.4 billion people to just 730 Million.
Why Women Are Having Fewer Babies
Better education, increased participation in the workforce and easier access to contraception are all factors contributing to women having fewer children. Another reason is the high cost of raising a child today. All of these factors, combined with the advancement of women in many professional fields, makes having children less attractive than it was years ago.
The Broader Consequences of A Declining Fertility Rate
There are both positives and negatives from a falling Fertility Rate. On the positive side, fewer people on the planet should result in reduced consumption of vital natural resources, slowing of global warming, and overall improved living conditions for many people, especially those living in densely crowded cities.
The biggest negative of a falling Fertility Rate is the creation of an inverted age structure of the world’s population. By the year 2100, the number of people over 80 will soar from 141M in 2017, to 866 M. At the same time the number of young people will decline dramatically. The result is far fewer young people paying taxes, which governments need to maintain social programs, including caring for the elderly.
For more information, please see article titled “Fertility Rate: Jaw dropping Global Crash in Children Being Born ” published on bbc.com.
The Impact on Baby Gifts and Other Baby Products
There are no easy solutions for the social ramifications of a falling Fertility Rate. Besides, they are clearly beyond the scope of this humble baby products designer. But one thing is clear to me. Those of us with businesses dependent on women having babies should look at other product categories for business growth opportunities.
ABOUT SILLY PHILLIE®
Phyllis Gordon SDao-Owner/Designer
Silly Phillie® has been in business since 1985. We design & manufacture unique baby gifts, layette, and kid’s bathrobes. Our premium quality products are made with love in the USA. We personalize and customize “beautiful gifts for beautiful babies“. Please visit www.sillyphillie.com.
Silly Phillie® Creations, Inc. is a woman owned business. Call 855.885.3900 to inquire about our unique baby gift baskets and other sensational products. You can also email me directly: phyllis@sillyphillie.com.
I’d “love” to hear from you!
Phyllis Gordon S’Dao
