Chile's birth rate has plummeted to below one child per woman, a trend mirroring and potentially foreshadowing similar declines in the U.S. This is driven by factors like high living costs and changing societal views on motherhood, with many young women prioritizing education and careers. While some Chilean conservatives view this as a crisis and advocate for pro-natalist policies, experts believe this demographic shift is a permanent change requiring societal adaptation, rather than reversal.

Prepared by Emily Rhodes and reviewed by editorial team.