How Cities Make Their Own Inhabitants Infertile

Cities are engines of economic growth and hotbeds for cultural activity. But they’re a double edged sword for countries as they reduce the fertility of their inhabitants.

Macau is culturally identical to mainland China, and yet there’s a gulf between their fertility rates: 0.95 vs 1.6. Monaco and mainland France present the same case - 1.53 vs 2.07. Why’s this? Both Macau and Monaco are city states. Here’s how cities reduce birth rates👇👇👇

Air pollution. Automobiles and industries lead to increased carbon emissions. Research has shown how air pollution diminishes the AMH hormone in women, leading to lower ovarian activity and lower fertility.

Lead exposure. Pipes reinforced with lead deliver water to urban homes. If corrosion sets in due to lack of repair, lead mixes with the running water. Lead exposure reduces both sperm quality and count. It also causes more premature births and miscarriages.

Stress. A thriving city often comes with high-stress situations. Stress hormones such as cortisol and epinephrine affect one’s fertility negatively. Saliva studies show stressed women take 29% longer to get pregnant.

Space. Space is much more expensive in urban areas, discouraging couples from having multiple children. 

The rural setup makes children economically productive through farm work while the urban setup - childcare, expensive schools, college - makes them an economic burden. In cities, children don’t contribute financially until mid 20s. This changes the calculus towards fewer kids.

Cities putting downward pressure on birthrates isn’t a new phenomenon - archival documents show London had low fertility in the 1600s.

Bottom line: Cities generate wealth, tech advancements, and cultural diversity. But through pollution, metal exposure, lack of space, stress, & the transformation of children from economic asset to economic burden, cities reduce fertility and create national demographic decline.