Five Non-Debt Problems That the U.S. Government Is Largely Ignoring | National Review

A National Review analysis argues that U.S. leaders focus on highly visible political disputes while overlooking major long-term risks, with one of the biggest being demographic decline. The article points to 3.6 million births in the U.S. last year, down from a 2007 peak of 4.3 million, meaning nearly 718,000 fewer births in 2025 than in 2007. It projects that by 2043 slightly fewer than 3.6 million people will turn 18, potentially reducing the young adult base, even accounting for possible offsets via immigration. It cites Institute for Family Studies calculations suggesting population could peak around 351 million and begin declining in the 2050s if fertility trends continue, noting fertility rates below 1.6 children per woman. The piece also references activist Paul Ehrlich’s influence on views of overpopulation and human life as a burden.