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How many children do we want - and how is this changing?

Panel debate: presenting the "Global Fertility Preferences Database": a new, open-access tool containing data from 170 countries. The presentation is followed by a discussion of the wider policy implications.

When

Tuesday, 9 June 2026, 13:00-14:00, CEST (online via Zoom)

"Fertility preferences" is a term in demography that describes people’s ideal, desired, and intended number of children. Data on these preferences has been documented in many countries for many years. What can this information tell us about how families and societies have evolved over time? To what extent can we use these data to indicate future demographic trends?

The Global Fertility Preferences Database (GFPD) is a new, open-access database which contains people’s fertility preferences in 170 countries, reaching back as far as 1936.

This talk presents the data and first research insights - followed by a discussion of the wider policy implications. 

Speakers:

  • Kateryna Golovina (Researcher at the Population Research Institute of Väestöliitto in Helsinki) 
  • Michaela Kreyenfeld (Professor of Sociology, Hertie School; Director of the Einstein Center Population Diversity in Berlin)
  • Sven Iversen (Vice-President of COFACE Families Europe)
  • Moderation: Andreas Edel (Executive Secretary of Population Europe)

The event will be held in English.

Register here

Global Fertility Preferences Database (GFPD)