Karachi: The Gallup International Association End-of-Year Survey 2025 has unveiled a complex global landscape concerning population growth and family size preferences. Findings from the study, which covers 59 countries on population issues and 61 countries on family size ideals, highlight a world split between aging societies fearing population decline yet favoring smaller families, and rapidly expanding societies concerned about growth but idealizing larger households.

According to Gilani Research Foundation, the survey, which is the world’s longest-running global public opinion study, indicates that in the 59 countries surveyed, 39% of respondents believe their population is not growing fast enough, while 24% think it is growing too quickly. The concerns about rapid growth are most pronounced in countries like Pakistan and South Africa, whereas fear of population decline is notably high in Greece and Ukraine.

The survey also explored perceptions of ideal family size across 61 countries, revealing that the two-child family remains the global norm, preferred by 54% of respondents. However, notable regional variations exist, with lower-income economies showing a greater preference for larger families. Meanwhile, a growing minority in high-income countries now expresses a preference for a child-free lifestyle, with Brazil and the United States leading this trend.

The findings underscore a global demographic paradox, where fears of both overpopulation and underpopulation coexist, potentially influencing future policy debates on migration, healthcare, and employment. The survey highlights a tension between demographic anxieties and aspirations, suggesting significant implications for societal and economic planning worldwide.