Birthrates Are Falling, but Don’t Blame Dogs in Strollers

New York Times - WorldCenter-LeftEN 3 min read 100% complete by Amanda TaubDecember 18, 2025 at 06:01 AM

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medium article 3 min

A common theory suggests that declining global birthrates are linked to people choosing pets over children, with examples cited in South Korea and Japan. However, a new study in Taiwan, where birthrates are low, challenges this idea. Researchers analyzed government data on pet and birth registrations to investigate the relationship between pet ownership and having children. The study found that pet owners, especially dog owners, were more likely to have children than those without pets. This suggests that, at least in Taiwan, pets are not replacing children but rather preceding them in households. The research contradicts the notion that pets are a primary driver of declining birthrates.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Miki Toguchi 40% South Korea 50% Taipei City 50% Ming-Jen Lin 60% Japan 60% Tokyo ×260% Kim Moon-Soo 70% Pope Francis 70% Taiwan ×280%

Keywords

birthrates 100% pets 90% pet ownership 80% fertility crisis 70% taiwan 70% childlessness 60% dog ownership 60% demographic winter 50% birth registration 50% social trends 40%

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Positive

Score: 0.20

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Source

New York Times - World

Political Lean

Center-Left (-0.30)

Far LeftCenterFar Right

Classification Confidence

90%

This article was automatically classified using rule-based analysis. The political bias score ranges from -1 (far left) to +1 (far right).

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birthrates pets pet ownership fertility crisis taiwan childlessness dog ownership demographic winter birth registration social trends

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