This paper by Ester Lazzari and Eva Beaujouan (2026) examines the correspondence between ideal and actual family size among men and women, as well as the influence of infertility and socioeconomic factors on whether they achieved the number of children they considered ideal for themselves. Using data from 10 low-fertility countries included in the second round of the Generations and Gender Survey, the results show that up to half of men and women end their reproductive years wishing they had more children. Having experienced infertility stands out as a key predictor of this gap, increasing the likelihood of underachieving one's ideal family size by 17 percent and 26 percent among childless men and women, and by 12 percent and 19 percent among those with one child.
Lazzari, E., & Beaujouan, E. (2026). Infertility and Unrealized Ideal Family Size. Population and Development Review. DOI
