Many Residents of Georgia Want to Have Children but Cannot Afford It — UN Report

A large number of Georgian residents want to have two or three children but cannot afford it, according to a UN report presented in New Georgia. The report highlights financial difficulties, low wages, and unreliable social support systems as the main reasons. The findings were presented by UNFPA in a webinar where Georgian sociologist Radio Svoboda shared insights.

According to the data, 79% of people in Eastern Europe and Central Asia consider having children a priority form of relationships, and half of the children are born in families with low incomes. In Georgia, the average household has 2.6 members, with men averaging three.

There is a significant gap between desired and actual number of children. Researchers associate this gap with economic reasons. The authors emphasize this issue with economic data and statistics.