By Rose Kasigwa

United Nations population fund (UNFPA) on July 2,2025 released the state of world population report 2025 showing a decline in fertility rate.

The report highlights a global decline in fertility a trend which is also evident in Uganda as confirmed by the 2024 population census.

The report emphasizes that the real fertility crisis is not overpopulation or under population, but rather the inability of individuals to realize their desired fertility goals due to lack of reproductive agency.

The report reveals that one in five people globally expect not to have the number of children they desire due to economic and social barriers, rather than lack of interest in parenthood.

According to the report, more than half of respondents cited economic issues as barriers to having children, while one in five people said they felt pressured to have children when they did not want to and one in three adults experienced an unintended pregnancy.

 The report under the theme: (the real crisis, the pursuit of reproductive agency in a changing world) was presented by the UNFPA representative in Uganda, Dr Gift Malanga, at the press launch held today at Uganda media centre in Kampala.

The director national planning authority Joseph Muvawala, welcomed this report saying this can also be now seen in Uganda as every woman child bearing age has reached a number of 4.5 children meaning that the country fertility rates are going down.

Muvawala attributes it to the growing access to reproductive health services and education.