The widespread adoption of smartphones may be playing a significant role in declining birth rates, according to a June 2026 working paper by economists at Middlebury College published through the National Bureau of Economic Research. The study suggests the introduction of the iPhone could account for between 33% and 52% of the decline in fertility rates among US women aged 15 to 44.
Researchers Caitlin K. Myers and Ezekiel Hooper found that smartphones may have reduced in-person social interactions, contributed to lower intimacy, and increased pornography consumption. The findings build on CDC data released in April 2026 showing that US birth rates among women aged 15–44 fell 23% between 2007 and 2025, with about 53 births per 1,000 women recorded in 2025.
The authors stressed that smartphones are only one factor behind the trend, noting that financial pressures and women choosing to have children later in life also contribute to lower fertility rates.
As birth rates continue to decline around the world, experts warn the shift could have far-reaching consequences for economies, workforces, and population growth. Click through the following gallery to learn more.