Will Gen-Z Skip Having Kids? South Africa vs. Population Crisis

With declining birth and fertility rates globally, we explore the attitudes and views of Gen-Z on this issue vs. life in South Africa through street interviews.
From cost of living to ambition, young people have several reasons for choosing to either have fewer children or none at all.

[@AdelTheForsaken]

No same person wants to raise their children in abject property.

[@TheEntries]

This is across the board though. Not only poor people

[@UseYourBrain00]

Birth rate going to be continuously declined around the world not only in the South Africa due to financial crisis.

[@UseYourBrain00]

@@unicorndelicious I got You. I feel bad for the last generation women.

[@hexepick8328]

Conventional medicine is profit-oriented, meaning people are shielded from information that enables them to deal with illness without costly treatments that overall do more harm then good, so for the sake of income people will be harmed, suffer and die. An average of 2.1 Children is not enough in a soceity that canibalizes on the ignorant for the sake of income.

[@herambaanjaneya2041]

1. Any financial crisis won't last for all eternity 2. People will have more kids once it makes sense! Down on the homestead/farm it made sense but in the city kids are huge expense!

[@llothar68]

​@@herambaanjaneya2041what if it is not a crisis but the system working exactly like this as design?

[@Willsmiff1985]

@@llothar68 the follow up question to that would be: what is the incentive for any conspirator to reduce the pop? Tbh, I don’t see any long term incentive. Maybe companies that deal in geriatric goods. But besides that? Nah… there’s no grand plan. This is humans being shortsighted.

[@user-mi4wd8rg9t]

I wont give the state a new person. The state will never say a word to my children.

[@LadyMarigoldWithers]

I might have had children had I met the right man in younger years but he would have had to be amazing as I’ve never had baby fever so probably for the best! I don’t regret what I never saw as a good option.

[@TheEntries]

I don't think I'll ever have any either. I do find it weird when people ask others "why don't you have children?" Has this ever happened to you?

[@LadyMarigoldWithers]

⁠@@TheEntriesyes quite a few times. Saying you don’t like kids is a very simple way to get people to mind their own business and it has the happy side effect of them also backing off lol. Some people are simply curious though and you can tell by their tone which is fine but it’s a very personal subject so not something I would ask someone about (or even think to) unless the other person mentions it first.

[@herambaanjaneya2041]

I'm from the UK where housing whether to buy or rent is grossly unaffordable for those under about 45. NO HOME NO FAMILY!

[@TheEntries]

I heard someone say "there's never a perfect time to have kids." So they have kids and hope for the best. Quite sad for the kids coz many end up being born into terrible circumstances.

[@whitneyanders5945]

How sad are people like that to be born with a brain and not even use it? ‘Hoping for the best’ is great when you have a financial security blanket to fall back on when times are tough, but that kind of thinking is moronic for the majority of people.

[@KJSvitko]

Education and birth control are key to reducing poverty and hunger. Having a child that you can not provide for yourself is cruel and irresponsible.

[@111katu]

Hey! I was blown away to realize there aren't any comments here yet and also the views, I felt like I was watching a video by those big video essay KZbinrs and then to my surprise found this empty comment section. Your content is amazing and the quality is so good, like seriously you'll be big for sure if you keep putting out this good content, this channel deserves some promotion, sadly I'm not one to do that since I'm basically nobody. It's so great to see life in Africa, I'm from Europe and we have been held in darkness about life in Africa and sometime even lied to, so it was so nice to see the reality presented by a local without any bias (a lot of foreigner go to Africa to prove how bad it is and it's sad to see). I was surprised though that the economic downturn is affecting Africa just as much as Europe. I'm 23 y/o woman and I can relate to those gorgeous women in the video. I have a fiancee and he's doing all he can to get us closer to having a family. I'm currently studying, so I'm more of an expense at this point and we're staying with his parents for now since rent is unaffordable. It saddens me to see my fiancee try so hard to make me happy and I feel torn apart by the question of kids. I, as many young people, have been taught by society that kids are a burden and prevent you from living the life (going traveling, parties, etc.) but being as conservative as I am, I really want kids even though sometimes I do feel like they will prevent me from doing stuff I dream of. However, my fiancee adores children and it makes him so happy, so I really want to give him that. I really romantasize the Jane Austen era where all families were big. It seems so nice to have big family (4 kids and more), yet, I don't think it will be the reality since everything is designed for max 3 children. Family cars have room for max 3 kids, better 2. The houses are small (at least in the Netherlands where I live) and have on average 2 bedrooms. Family tickets in amusement parks and everywhere count for 2-3 kids. So, it's very obvious that having more than 2 kids would be a hassle (also my fiancee would not prefer having more than that). In addition, it would be expensive to have many kids or kids at all at this point. I really hope that we can survive through this bad economic time and people whose dream is to be a parent will have their chance without having to choose between living comfortably and having a family. Anyways, cheers and keep up the good work, your videos are amazing.

[@archibaldhernandez5553]

Good point that things are designed for max 3 kids

[@TheEntries]

Hartelijk dank. I appreciate the compliments. More importantly, glad to hear that you can relate to this. You are so right, everything is being adapted to be only for smaller families. It really should not be so expensive to just Start a family, it's unsustainable. In South Africa, this is especially notable with the middle class - the types of cars and houses people go for are changing. I had no idea houses were small in the Netherlands, I thought they must be sizable because so many people there are so tall, or at least the few I have come across :)

[@JB-TheCat]

I ain’t reading all that

[@archibaldhernandez5553]

@@JB-TheCat Read it. It's worthi it

[@zefft.f4010]

I'm not convinced that it's a crisis at all. I think it's an economic issue, both that people find it too expensive to have kids and that capitalists are concerned there won't be replacement workers so they can maintain their profits. I personally don't want any children. Purely a personal decision, politics and money aren't a factor. I just don't like kids. Also, congratulations, the algorithm seems to have picked you up.

[@TheEntries]

Thanks. Yea! Definitely an economic issue. I have the same reasoning for not wanting kids. You know it's about labour supply when even China is complaining lol. Regarding this being a crisis, I suppose only time will tell.

[@PrettyOmnificent333]

For me I don't like or dislike them I just don't desire them I feel nothing about them.

[@ganjagangja]

Wait til you see what happens when we don't have enough people to maintain infrastructure and to care for the sick and elderly. It's definitely a crisis.

[@decepticon8000]

"I just don't like kids." 😂😂😂 That's a very good reason to not have kids my guy, if only other people would just admit this to themselves the world would be a much better place.

[@paballothabethe5899]

@@PrettyOmnificent333 Same. Just indifferent to them. As long as they stay there far from me, I couldn't care less if they exist or not. Heck even I would not exist if I had the choice before being birthed -because wow this human thing. Film I tell you :)

[@robinatorsmith]

I'm 64 years. No kids by choice 😊

[@herambaanjaneya2041]

​@@jiminycricket1593Pot calling kettle black! If you didn't feel you YOURSELF to be quite such a LOSER you wouldn't have been quite so TRIGGERED BITTER, ANGRY and JEALOUS!

[@BigJFindAWay]

50 years old. No kids. But that decision was taken out of my hands.

[@KaraboMolokwane007]

This is some international level of production 💯💯

[@TheEntries]

Thank you for checking it out. Got more coming your way👌🏾

[@bighoss8793]

We already have too many people.

[@yumikumi2]

When they talk about population decline, they’re not talking about Blk people, just saying.

[@LouisMota]

I’ve got 3, planning for the 4th soon. What’s the point of life if I just live for me. My children are my continuation on earth. Long after this body is gone, a little part of me will remain. I hope they too have many children, and I will help them with taking care of the children. And when the world if filled with retired old people, I hope my children will help me in my old age, they are my retirement plan.

[@jameskamotho7513]

The last sentence is sarcastic right? Or you are being delusional?

[@triggered577]

You don’t have to have children to live for something other than yourself but even in your attempt to sounds selfless if you only revealed just how arrogant you are. Every reason you give for having children is about YOU. That is the epitome of selfishness. Your children are not “a continuation” of you- they are human beings who will grow up to be their own person. Plus, when you die no one is going to care who your kids are just like when they die, no one will care who you are. And - why exactly does their need to be “a little part of you” that remains when you pass on anyway? If you are that concerned about a legacy, that is demonstrated by actions and intelligence, such as philanthropy or innovation, not procreation lol wtf

[@LouisMota]

@@jameskamotho7513 What I meant by retirement plan was that between the 4 of them, I do hope that I will have some help, not financially, but with help old people usually need. I do help my own parents with everything they ask or need. A person with zero children, gets zero help when old, that was my point.

[@mechailreydon3784]

Well it’s becoming increasingly harder for young people to move out, making it increasingly harder for us to start our own families even if we want to. And on top of that birth control is becoming increasingly easier to get access to. Abortions are becoming easier to get. Seems to me like it’s obvious why birth rates are dropping.

[@IgnoranceIsNotAFlex]

I just feel like having kids and getting married is outdated and comes with few rewards

[@robinatorsmith]

I don't give a f..k about 2100

[@TheEntries]

I think many people will concur 😄

[@antinatalistwitch111]

At all. 😂

[@linhaton4957]

I have read that the more educated the mother is, the less children they have. That’s probably true. A large family is hard on the body.

[@paballothabethe5899]

Not just that, the emotional labour put in to make these kids functional adults and childrearing itslf is no child's play

[@mafokomotseothata3447]

i just discovered this channel today and im fully behind it!

[@TheEntries]

Much appreciated :)

[@psalm91sg1]

I wanted to marry, but no girl would choose a low-income career and not a handsome guy, same as gals facing the same issue. Now I am 50 yrs and divorce.

[@TheEntries]

I'm curious. Why did you want to marry though?

[@silentautisticdragon-kp9sw]

Part of the reason having kids is so much more expensive these days is because the way children are raised in the modern age is more expensive. All of a sudden kids are getting their own bedrooms, getting enormous wardrobes, each of them are getting their own car, they each get multiple pieces of technology, they have scores of Christmas and birthday presents, the list goes on. It used to be far different.

[@TheEntries]

They even wear expensive branded clothing and own iPads at 5yrs old. It's wild.

[@susannehuber3996]

I don’t want any kids EVER.

[@noneofyourbusiness4830]

Who says the birth rates are too low? Rich managers who want cheap, desperate workers? Economists who only care about the GDP number? Machines have been taking people's jobs and continue to do so. Making machines/robots pay for retirement sounds like a better solution than making people have more kids.

[@tpmokoena2542]

Ok, this difference. I like the approach.

[@TheEntries]

Thanks. More coming. Do subscribe

[@shahankhan7685]

The only way to improve brith rate is have a verry good wealth redistribution system.

[@keketsokhadijamofokeng8150]

This was nice to watch.

[@TheEntries]

Hey. I'm glad you think so. There's more coming :)

[@dikidindc]

This is a really good video

[@TheEntries]

Thank you.

[@WilliamSantos-cv8rr]

Good video bro

[@TheEntries]

Thank you.

[@PrettyOmnificent333]

Wow im suprised that this is happening in S.A i thought the birth rate was high here cause it looks like it .

[@TheEntries]

Right? One of the women I interviewed said the same thing. It looks high

[@kalebgonzales4009]

I don’t blame the newer generations opting out. I guess it’s just the reality of life getting harder for them. It’s understandable. Do you think this is just karma biting back?

[@TheEntries]

Don't know about karma, but this is definitely a man-made problem

[@kalebgonzales4009]

@@TheEntries karma for us older gens I mean.

[@KateeAngel]

Human population was 2.5 billion only 70 years ago. It grew too rapidly, the population decline is needed to compensate for that. We are also in ecological overshoot for 50 years already

[@kgaoletsaDNA0]

i think Sociology is rather not accurate even though it is give us Data on what we are doing. unfortunately, as a south african, i am not sure why people are Reading our great Philosophy, David Benatar. he is right, even outside th sociology, it is better NEVER to be!

[@TheEntries]

There's probably a place for antinatalism somewhere, sure. I do find it crucial to understand why people still have that deep desire to procreate regardless of all these consequences that antinatalism says make it immoral.

[@kgaoletsaDNA0]

@@TheEntries I Hope you find an answer worth of it being Moral or ethical.

[@antinatalistwitch111]

Hello what part of S. Africa were you in? Can't wait to visit

[@TheEntries]

Pretoria. Just north of Johannesburg.

[@jameskamotho7513]

Nice video. Im curious to know if you interviewed just university educated people or if you also went to the townships. Here in Africa, viewpoints do vary based on socioeconomic status and education... but I think SA is a bit ahead demographically of other Sub-Saharan Africa countries. Here in Kenya, such a topic is still being framed in terms overpopulation. Some government officials implied that it's the reason we can't pay our debts...

[@TheEntries]

Not all Uni students. The 4 Black women are actually at a uni that's in a township. In Kenya, are you actually seeing or hearing people change their views on having kids and family size?

[@jameskamotho7513]

@@TheEntries I see. Here in Kenya, like I said, it's government officials that have broached the subject in the recent past after releasing a population strategic plan. Those sentiments were largely negatively received especially on Twitter. But within the general public, I'm aware of just one or two celebrities who have openly said they don't want kids. It's a subject most people don't even entertain. People here still want kids. In fact, from a study I carried out myself for a masters student in my area, I realized that only single mum's have 1 or 2 kids. If it weren't for them, our average would be higher. We're still largely rural unlike SA and so child raising is still free-range for lack of a better word. People are crying about higher taxes (there were even organized protests today) but I don't think it has had any effect on encouraging childfreeness...

[@TheEntries]

These are some valuable insights. Thank you

[@jameskamotho7513]

@@TheEntries Much obliged...

[@INVAZOR33]

Lots of old people will die sad and alone once the elder care industry collapses.

[@jupiterthree5228]

People with kids already die sad and alone. Ask the end of life care providers. You can't count on kids to care for you or care about you. Single childfree women are the happiest demographic. Just look at the stats. Also look at the regretful parents subreddit while you're at it.

[@INVAZOR33]

@jupiterthree5228 Care providers aren't people, make since. I suppose reading comprehension of Americans is sad too.

[@triggered577]

My prediction is that AI will help solve this issue of elder care. And those of us who don’t have children will be the only ones who can afford it😂😂😂 Can you imagine a futuristic retirement home with VR headsets readily available to make immediate service requests and communication assistance with humanoid robots. Dope af if you ask me. Aside from my friends, (some) family, and Beyoncé, I really don’t care for people that much anyway so I don’t mind if humanity collapses 😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@KateeAngel]

Living alone doesn't necessarily mean bad things. Many people prefer to live alone undependent of age group. I am a very introverted person, and I hope to live alone as long as I can, at least until I am 85

[@INVAZOR33]

@@KateeAngel reference "Japan death cleaning service"

[@astroterra5021]

This is a big issue.....no workers

[@ThabisoRatlou]

I am Millennial and trust me as much as I want children, the economy is not conducive for me to raise even one toddler. The max I want is 2 or three.

[@engchoontan8483]

the game is for people who knows their place to enjoy their-own individual effort and for pretentuous to suffer their-own pretence. when self is difficult, some religions bring on another and then a few more. do more, some more, many more until no more. some societies view walking-alone as social-outcasts but employs commandos and special-forces. others fear those who walks-alone. it takes much more skills and knowledge to walk-alone. money-snobs and brand-warfare and name-dropping always use the leverage of-OTHERs(not-theirs).

[@talyah23]

Cost of living crisis everywhere. housing is expensive everywhere. Population decline everywhere. The sad comment of the one lady who wants to move overseas...the grass isnt always greener.

[@ScissorN]

While South Africans are not giving birth, Zimbambweans who lv in SA are always pregnant

[@ThabisoRatlou]

Another emerging problem that is not monitored. Funny part they're entitled to receive social grant .

[@dalegg66]

It’s always scary to me when I see birth rates dropping, and yet we’re stilling looking at adding 1 or 2 billion more people on the planet. I don’t think anyone wants 15 billion people on the planet, but that’s what avoiding the demographic cliff would mean.

[@KJSvitko]

Population needs to be in balance with jobs, resources, nature and the environment. Having a bigger population in any country than the country can support makes no sense. Access to food, water, shelter, energy and jobs should guide population levels. The worlds population is still expected to add another billion people to feed, clothe and produce pollution. Humans are crowding out all other species of plants and animals. Education and birth control are key to reducing poverty and hunger. Having a child that you can not provide for yourself is cruel and irresponsible. We need solutions not just sympathy. Endless population growth is not sustainable on a finite planet. Every country needs to "TRY" to be more self sufficient. When there are not enough resources to sustain a population something has to give. Countries need to focus on quality of life for their citizens and not just quantity of life for cheap labor. Why import fossil fuels when wind and solar energy can be produced locally and solar energy can power electric vehicles. We need solutions not just sympathy.

[@user-em1sj5ph6h]

It’s only been for 3 generations that kids are optional.

[@bowser3017]

wait, but... south africa birth rate is 2.3, still good

[@TheEntries]

Yes. Definitely good compared to many others, see 1:45 However, if the trend continues to be to have a maximum of 2 kids, then South Africa will decline like all the others. More importantly, the global rate is on the way down. Even if South Africa was at 3.0, that would not be enough to make a significant statistical difference to the global rate. I can't say for sure, but the way the young people are talking and behaving, it just might go below 2 in South Africa soon. What do you think?

[@bowser3017]

@TheEntries I think that the problem with demographics will not begin in South Africa any time soon. To the north of this country there are countries whose fertility rates are much higher than 2, so migrants to South Africa will come from there

[@TheEntries]

What you're talking about is something parts of Europe are already experiencing. keen to see how it plays out Africa.

[@BigJFindAWay]

As if the locals give them a warm welcome.

[@archiboldramasenya9385]

tell me you've worked for national treasury without telling me you worked for the national treasury

[@TheEntries]

I can neither confirm nor deny 😅 Just kidding bruv. Never. Is this a focus point for the treasury?

[@nah131]

This is all perfect according to WEF plan

[@angiebugeja6944]

The world is so corrupted and unbalanced rich and poor

[@herambaanjaneya2041]

The world to which you refer isn't the world - it's the WEST! This is what you get when power hungry Socialists ruthlessly poison the minds of the young/brainwash them from becoming self-reliant and entrepreneurial coupled with a psychopathic billionaire and political class who think it's perfectly ok to impoverish the working class and eviscerate the middle class so that you end up with what we've got - an ever increasingly dominant billionaire class, and eviscerated collapsing middle class and a vast sea of absolutely impoverished working class people! Asia ISN'T doing this but the West is happy to commit Hari Kari on the back of whatever cause celebre bed wetting anti capitalist climate Alarmist brain dead moron would have you believe! That's why dear UK souls living in "SOCIAL HOUSING" for God's sake are paying GBP £160 for their energy costs every month of the year for their 1 bedroom flats (GBP £110 pcm fixed heating charge paid DIRECT to the landlord and GBP £50.00 for general electricity paid separately). Outrageous!

[@ndumisomthethwa7497]

Then why are there no jobs 😡😡😡😡😡😡😡

[@Dany-rx7rs]

AI is there.

[@invader_britt]

Honestly, the world is too populated anyway. My husband and I are 30 and we don't have any kids most millennials I know don't have kids if they do they have 1 child.

[@TheEntries]

Yup. I'm a millenial. My social circle is similar. 1 kid max.

[@MlandoMvubu]

The world is not too populated. Most arable land is empty, not even farmed.......Have you seen Eastern Cape and Free State hinterlands? rolling green hills of emptyness.

[@invader_britt]

@@MlandoMvubu You're talking in terms of land, and space. Everyone who has paid attention geology class knows most of the land on earth is actually either inhabitable or not even agricultural viable to use. If you want to go live on a mountain with high altitude go ahead. What i'm talking about is in terms of necessity. We dont "need" more people. We have tons of people on earth already, I rather adopt.

[@MlandoMvubu]

@@invader_britt We do need more babies. If we are not even replacing the current Population we are headed for disaster. Watch China and Korea in the next decade, and see what happens when birth rates fall far below replacement rates

[@MlandoMvubu]

@@invader_britt Oh and yes, most land is inhabitable, but still, MOST habitable land is empty and unused. All of the current population can fit to the state of Texas USA. All of us, in one out of 50 states of the USA. Leaving the rest of the planet empty.

[@russelljconquerslifehawkey]

I want 0

[@paballothabethe5899]

Yessss pls!

[@FierBarca1899]

Why is England never in the Group of Death? Does FIFA privilege England over other nations in their draws?

[@god563616]

This is happening worldwide especially in China. 🙏

[@TheEntries]

Indeed. I speak about China in the video, and how the 1 child policy has screwed them over.

[@MediaHydra]

Lol

[@sibusisonkomo1543]

Am gonna have 3 kids when am 30 years so becuz for me it is important to carry on the the family bloodline

[@TheEntries]

I hear you. I'm curious, why is carrying on the bloodline important to you?

[@cutcut1980]

I wanted 7, but I only had 5.

[@TheEntries]

Jeez. Making up the numbers for the rest of us. I'm curious, why 7?

[@RomeliaGomez-Calmell7934]

Why seven?

[@Leo-bv7my]

There are many African countries with too many children who can immigrate here. Europe and America do the same because they don't have enough children and it has worked for them.

[@tyranid13]

Bullshit, mass migration has been a disaster.

[@KateeAngel]

​@@tyranid13nope, otherwise those countries wouldn't be as rich as they are now. Seems they are fine after mass immigration

[@FierBarca1899]

Gen Z exclusively refers to Americans in a particular age category. Not Europeans, Africans, or Asians. Why are you using the term Gen Z to refer to South Africans of that category?

[@TheEntries]

I wish that was the case, but it's not. Gen-Z, Gen-X, Gen-Alpha, etc...is terminology established by Psychologists and sociologists to refer to not only "age category", but mindset and life milestones. "Gen-X", for example, was actually popularised by a Canadian. Not U.S American. Being sociological, these terms are usable across cultures and regions BUT that does not mean American Gen-Z and South African Gen-Z are the same. They may have similarities in life milestones but they are not the same. The terms have a bad rep for "boxing" people into definitions but the discourse has grown out of that in social research AND market research, industries that employ these regularly ACROSS the world. So why use it to refer to S.A youngsters? Well, it captures a bit of the mindset from the get go for the viewer and the demographic focus of the video. Lest I make a 1yr sociological study :) NB: it's not just about age. Hope this makes sense 👍🏾

[@FierBarca1899]

@@TheEntries Thank you for that clarification. I am shocked that American sociologists continue to define the world via their colonizing lenses. What are SOME milestones common to Chinese, Arab, Indian, South African and American teens? Or is American culture so powerful that it assumes that those people groups will be willingly baptized in its image?

[@KateeAngel]

All generations since millenials can be considered global, cause the world is globalised especially due to internet

[@PrettyOmnificent333]

Dude please talk to millennials aswell.

[@TheEntries]

You mean for this same subjec matter? I may just. Do you think the responses and attitude will be different or similar?

[@pkom6418]

Women in higher education is the reason lol.

[@KateeAngel]

Falling child mortality and people no longer being subsistence farmers are the reason for falling birth rate. Women having more time to pursue education and work are the results of falling birth rate

[@DavidWaweru-lx4go]

Fear them Kenyans though 😂😂😂😂 7 kids how

[@TheEntries]

They are doing it for the rest of us 😁

[@KateeAngel]

Kenya has average birth rate less than 4 kids per woman, very rapidly declining

[@Marcus-rg7bg]

So. Why have kids? Especially now. Ill attempt to give an answer using myself. My genetics are fully aware of what is going on in the world. So if i were to get some lucky woman pregnant lol, my genetics would go in and work with hers. The child will come out with knowledge of what to do. Will have to coach it a little, but it would work out. Always has. There. Problem solved lol.

[@hydratejsn]

Lol absolutely not. Kids don't come out knowing what to do. They even struggle to pass gas on their own. Where did you get that wild idea from?

[@Marcus-rg7bg]

@@hydratejsn I said with a little coaching. But then, you wouldn't understand. I can tell. It's OK.

[@hydratejsn]

@@Marcus-rg7bg I've been working part-time as a babysitter, but It's obvious you've never been responsible for a child in your life, because "little couching" a toddler? These guys try to eat cosmetics and bugs, jump into deep water, out the window, bite into knives. They don't have much innate knowledge, they need focused training and surveillance and that takes a lot of effort.

[@Marcus-rg7bg]

@@hydratejsn you would be correct on the child comment. However, all children are different. Some are born very very enhanced. So much so that they seem mentally insufficient to the human conscience observer. But it's OK. We all have different thought patterns and opinions. You are entitled to yours my friend.

[@paballothabethe5899]

Love how you think it's that easy for someone to get pregnant with your child. Don't you know that women's reproductive organ (ovum) has certain chemicals that choose if it will accept a sperm to merge with it or not?