Global Fertility Fell Below 2.1 in 2023 as Smartphones, AI Weighed on Partnering
Updated
Updated · letsdatascience.com · Jun 8
Global Fertility Fell Below 2.1 in 2023 as Smartphones, AI Weighed on Partnering
3 articles · Updated · letsdatascience.com · Jun 8
Summary
More than two-thirds of countries were below replacement fertility in 2023, with the global rate slipping under 2.1 births per woman, Vox reported.
Vox tied that decline to a 2010s drop in romantic partnering and sexual activity that closely tracked mass smartphone adoption, arguing weaker couple formation is a key driver of population loss.
AI chatbots and companion apps could deepen the trend by supplying always-available emotional support and validation that substitute for some offline relationships.
The warning broadens a debate already sharpened by new studies probing whether smartphones helped push birthrates down since about 2007, with implications for labor supply, aging populations and future regulation.