#Demography

The United Nations has sounded the alarm on an “unprecedented” worldwide decline in fertility rates, with profound consequences already shaping the future of nations like Thailand. The latest United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) report signals a tipping point: hundreds of millions of people worldwide are having fewer children than they would like, often citing rising financial pressures and shifting social dynamics as key barriers. For Thailand—a country at the heart of regional demographic shifts—the findings carry urgent weight, offering both fresh validation of local experiences and serving as a catalyst for renewed policy action.

Sangamon County, located in central Illinois, is grappling with its first population decline in two centuries—a development that has community leaders sounding the alarm and seeking innovative solutions to reverse the trend. According to recent remarks by the County Board Chair at a chamber of commerce luncheon, the region—best known as the seat of the state capital Springfield—has lost approximately 1,000 residents over the past decade, a decline that is especially pronounced among young people and working-age adults (newschannel20.com).