Michigan and California Lead in Childfree Adults | Lansing News

Lansing News Today | 2 Min | The Daily News Now! · Aug 24, 2026 · 1m

New research from Michigan State University reveals that Michigan and California lead the nation in childfree adults—with nearly 20% in Michigan and 22% in California choosing not to have kids and not planning to. Analyzing data from over 20,000 adults across all 50 states, researchers found that being single, older, or liberal correlates strongly with the childfree choice. Higher cost of living also plays a role, though efforts to lower costs or boost education likely won’t change people’s decisions. Surprisingly, these states are experiencing population stagnation or decline, underscoring…