A new report by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has found that while many young Ghanaians still aspire to get married and have children, financial pressures and unstable employment are making it difficult for them to achieve those goals.
The findings, highlighted during activities marking World Population Day 2026, indicate that economic security has become a major factor influencing decisions about marriage and starting families among young people.
This year’s World Population Day, observed on July 11, was celebrated under the theme “Realising the hopes and aspirations of young people, today and for the future.”
The theme was drawn from UNFPA’s latest report, Lives, Choices and Futures, which is based on the organisation’s Demographic Futures Survey involving more than 108,000 young adults across 73 countries.
According to the report, more than two-thirds of young adults aged between 18 and 39 expressed a desire to get married, while only about one in 10 indicated that they do not want children.
However, financial concerns remain a major obstacle, with 88 per cent of respondents saying financial security is necessary before becoming parents, while 87 per cent identified stable employment as an important requirement for starting a family.
Launching the report in New York, UNFPA Executive Director Diene Keita said the findings showed that young people continue to value family life but need the right conditions to make those choices.
“The findings are striking: most young people aspire to partnership and parenthood,” she said.
She added that removing financial barriers would allow young people to make “the choices that are right for them.”
Although the survey does not represent all young people globally because it largely captured responses from internet-connected adults, UNFPA said the results challenge claims that younger generations are increasingly abandoning marriage and family life.
The report noted that 80 per cent of respondents who wanted children cited the joy children bring as a key motivation, while government incentives were among the least important factors influencing their decisions.
It also found that respondents from West and Central Africa, including Ghana, generally preferred larger families compared with participants from many other regions.
Ghana’s youthful population and economic challenge
The findings come at a time when Ghana has a predominantly youthful population, with more than half of its estimated 33 million people below the age of 25.
UNFPA has consistently highlighted the potential of Ghana’s youthful population to drive economic growth through a demographic dividend, provided young people have access to quality education, healthcare and decent employment opportunities.
However, the organisation warned that limited economic opportunities could continue to delay major life decisions, including marriage and parenthood.
Beyond economic concerns, Ghana continues to face reproductive health challenges.
Data from the 2022 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey shows that 27.8 per cent of married women use modern contraceptive methods, while 23.4 per cent have an unmet need for family planning.
The survey further indicates that Ghana’s total demand for family planning stands at 59.7 per cent, with slightly more than 60 per cent of that demand being met.
The country’s total fertility rate currently stands at 3.9 children per woman, a figure that has remained relatively unchanged since 2017 after declining from 6.4 children per woman in 1988.
Meanwhile, Ghana’s maternal mortality ratio is estimated between 253 and 263 deaths per 100,000 live births as of 2020 — an improvement from almost 500 deaths per 100,000 live births recorded in 2000 but still above the Sustainable Development Goal target of 70 deaths by 2030.
Demand for reproductive health services remains high
Healthcare providers continue to record significant demand for reproductive health services across the country.
Programme data from MSI Reproductive Choices Ghana shows that the organisation recorded 107,184 client visits between January and June 2026 through its clinics in Accra, Kumasi and Takoradi, as well as partnerships with public health facilities.
Young people aged 15 to 24 accounted for 37,663 of those visits, representing 35 per cent of total clients.
Within the group, adolescents aged 15 to 19 recorded 7,058 visits, while those aged 20 to 24 accounted for 29,726 visits.
The data, which is self-reported and has not been independently audited, also shows that the programme provided 97,799 couple-years of protection and delivered 81,225 long-acting reversible contraceptive methods, including implants and intrauterine devices.
Global outlook
UNFPA said the survey reflects a wider global trend where financial stability, employment security and emotional preparedness are key considerations shaping young people’s decisions about marriage and parenthood.
Despite concerns over economic uncertainty, inequality and conflict, the report found that two-thirds of young respondents remain optimistic about their future.
The UN agency said a more detailed analysis of the Demographic Futures Survey, including policy recommendations, will be contained in its upcoming State of World Population 2026 report.
UNFPA stressed that increased investment in education, employment, housing, reproductive healthcare and social protection will be essential to helping young people achieve their aspirations and contribute to sustainable development.
