Hello everyone! It is getting hotter and hotter outside, so please take care of yourselves. Today, we’d like to discuss an issue that many people talk about Japan, but in fact, it is affecting almost every country in the world.
The United Nations says the world is going through a birth rate crisis. This means fewer babies are being born in many countries. At the same time, people are living longer. Because of this, there are more older people and fewer young people. This causes problems, like not having enough workers to help pay for things older people need, such as pensions and healthcare. Dr. Natalia Kanem, a UN leader, said many countries are now facing serious problems because their populations are shrinking and getting older.
To understand the problem better, the United Nations asked over 14,000 people in 14 countries questions about having children. One of the biggest reasons people said they don’t have kids is because it costs too much money. Many couples want children, but they feel they can’t afford to raise them. In fact, about 20 percent of adults said they don’t think they will be able to have the number of children they wish to have. Other reasons include low pay, expensive places to live, and fear about the future.
The United Nations says there are ways to help fix this problem. One idea is to create family-friendly rules and support. This could mean offering cheaper childcare, giving parents time off from work to take care of their children, and making sure families have the help they need. The UN believes that if countries make it easier to raise children, more people might feel ready to become parents.
What do you think about the birth rate issue? What should Japan do about this problem? Please let us know your thoughts when you come to BRIDGE again.
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