the latest numbers on fertility coming out of japan are honestly bleak while the fertility rate of most countries is below replacement rate, ideal fertility is generally still around or above replacement. in japan, even the number of children married couples actually plan to have is below replacement and has now reached the lowest on record at 1.95, while the ideal number is only barely above it this is important because it means the collapse cannot just be explained by people wanting kids but not being able to afford them (e.g. in the US the fertility rate is 1.6 but the ideal is ~2.7, suggesting some form of financial assistance may help increase the fr). people are just wanting fewer kids. this is a much bigger problem than childcare costs or housing prices. the issue is cultural the real question is how do we make family life something people actually look forward to