Cardus recently surveyed women — and for the first time, men — about their fertility ideals and intentions. For context, Canada’s total fertility rate in 2024 was 1.25 children per woman. This means we have joined the company of nations like South Korea with “lowest of the low” fertility.
The survey results showed that both men and women wish to have more children than they actually have by their mid-forties. Men desire slightly more children than women, and 59% of men aged 40-44 have fewer children than they wish. Only 53% of women say the same. Fewer than 50% of men and women are at their ideal family size by the time they reach their forties.
