Americans' Desire for Large Families Hits 50-Year High

Used in 2 entries

For each citing entry, the verbatim excerpt and Likelier's calculation notes (how the source's number was converted to the lifetime-probability framing) are shown below. Click through to read the full claim ledger.

1. [1] Family size Decision · inaction side

   Statistic

   The share of Americans who say the ideal family size is 3+ children rose to the highest level in 50 years, indicating a persistent gap between desired and actual fertility

   “"The share of Americans who say the ideal family size is three or more children has risen to the highest level in 50 years, widening the gap between desired and actual fertility."”

   Calculation notes

   Trend data showing that the desire-for-more gap is widening over time. Supports the 37% wish-for-more figure as durable rather than transient. The gap between desired and actual fertility is a structural feature of modern US demography.
   

   Source date: 2023-06-28 · Accessed: 2026-04-25

2. [2] One more child vs stopping Decision · inaction side

   Statistic

   45% of Americans now see three or more children as the ideal family size — the highest share since the late 1960s — up from 38% in 2013, widening the gap between desired and actual fertility

   “"Today, 45% of Americans see three or more children as ideal, a steep increase from 38% in 2013 and from 33% in 2003. Not since the sweeping social changes of the late 1960s have more Americans considered a larger family of three or more children ideal."”

   Calculation notes

   IFS analysis of Gallup Social Series data on ideal family size. Confirms that the aspiration-actuality gap is widening over time, supporting the wish-for-more direction as durable rather than a one-survey artifact. Included as corroborating trend evidence; the primary inaction-side rate (0.37) is drawn from the Stone (2021) SABES survey above.
   

   Source date: 2023-06-28 · Accessed: 2026-06-30