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- Most respondents said they would have “one child, or two at most” due to financial pressure and housing constraints.
- Higher‑income women prioritise career development over having children.
- Nearly 80% said they would not consider egg freezing because the costs are too high.
A recent survey by the Women Affairs Committee and Social Affairs Committee of the Federation of Hong Kong and Kowloon Labour Unions found that 60% of 550 childless Hong Kong women aged 18 to 45 said they “have no intention of having children”, while 40% indicated they would consider becoming mothers.
Among respondents aged 36 to 45, more than one third (35%) cited physiological factors as their primary reason for not planning to have children, with two thirds (66.7%) specifically pointing to advanced age. Meanwhile, respondents earning more than HK$50,000 per month said they were choosing to focus on career development instead of having children.
Even among those who are open to having children, economic pressure and limited living space remain major constraints. Most said they would consider “one child, or two children at most”.
Among women actively trying to conceive, 30% reported doing so for one to two years, 26.7% for three to four years, and 6.6% for five years and above.
When asked about assisted reproductive technologies, more than 80% said they had heard of egg freezing. However, nearly 80% said they would not consider the procedure due to its high cost.
Regarding current birth support measures, over half of respondents said they “strongly agree” or “agree” with existing policies. The most highly rated include:
- Child allowance (82.1%)
- Maternity and paternity leave (78.3%)
- Newborn Baby Bonus (73.1%)
Looking ahead, more than 90% of respondents believe childcare subsidies should be further increased to effectively lift the city’s birth rate. Many also support expanding the child allowance (67.6%) and introducing additional childcare leave (65.1%).
ALSO READ: Unreliable childcare is quietly pushing parents out of the workforce, new study warns
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