Big Shock: Getting Married Is the Single Biggest Driver of Fertility

For all the talk of marriage becoming obsolete, a funny thing started happening since 2008: Birthrates outside of marriage fell by 28%, while birthrates within marriage held steady.

NOTE: Daniel Hess’s work on the growing demographic implosion — and what to do about it — is excellent. Be sure to follow him on X. — RDM

by Daniel Hess
April 12, 2024

With fertility rates crashing worldwide, folks are realizing that policy isn't enough, and culture matters more. What cultural element matters more than any other for fertility? Marriage, and its importance has not been fading but increasing over time.

For all the talk of marriage becoming obsolete, a funny thing started happening since 2008: Birthrates outside of marriage fell by 28%, while birthrates within marriage held steady.

What's going on?

Evolutionary psychologist Geoffrey Miller (@primalpoly) explains that the way of our ancestors, where sex drive alone sustained fertility, doesn't work anymore. Now folks can fully control when they get pregnant, and more are choosing to do so only in a stable relationship.