How Zimbabwe’s urban families are redefining parenthood
Urban families in Zimbabwe are quietly redefining parenthood as rising economic pressures, career demands, and social expectations reshape the choices around family size.
A new global report from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has indicated that the decision to have fewer children is less about rejecting parenthood and more about balancing barriers.
The 2025 State of World Population (SWOP) Report, launched this week by UNFPA, the Zimbabwean government, and partners, revealed, amongst others, that across the world, millions of people are having fewer children than they desire. Economic challenges, healthcare costs, job insecurity, and difficulty finding suitable partners are the leading obstacles.
According to the latest 2023-24 Zimbabwe Demographic and Health Survey, the country’s Total Fertility Rate (TFR) stands at 3.9 children per woman, down from 4.3 in 1994. However, a closer look reveals an urban-rural divide; urban women average 3.1 children, while their rural counterparts average 4.6 children. Women in cities also tend to delay childbirth, starting their families at around 21.1 years compared to 19.4 years in rural areas.
For urban Zimbabwean families, the high cost of living, coupled with the rising expense of childcare, education, and healthcare, plays a significant role in limiting family size. “Even if women, especially those in the workforce, desire more children, balancing childcare with career growth is a huge challenge,” the report notes. The pressure to maintain full-time employment while managing domestic responsibilities often forces families to opt for smaller households.
UNFPA’s findings show that globally, women still perform three to ten times more unpaid domestic and caregiving work than men. This imbalance is shown in Zimbabwe, where urban women often shoulder the dual burden of professional work and household management, making larger families less feasible.
Women from the highest wealth quintile have an average of 2.6 children, while those from the lowest quintile average 5.5 children. Additionally, wealthier women tend to have their first child at 21.9 years, three years later than women from lower-income backgrounds.
Jo Abbot, UK Development Director and Deputy Head of Mission, emphasised that these trends pose not just personal but developmental challenges. “This report is a wake-up call. When people are unable to have the families they want due to economic or social barriers, it’s not just a personal loss, it’s a development challenge,” she said.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
