More than half of Lithuanians either do not plan to have children or remain undecided, according to a new survey that highlights growing anxiety about the future, difficulties forming relationships and rising social isolation in the country. To address the looming demographic crisis, the government is even suggesting to organise dances.
The poll, commissioned by the Crisis Intervention Centre (Krizių įveikimo centras), found that 40% of respondents do not plan to have children, while another 14% remain undecided. Only around one-quarter said they intend to start or expand a family.
A decade ago, entrepreneur Erika Purauskytė had no plans to become a mother. Focused on building her company, she associated family life with exhaustion and unequal burdens placed on women.
“I had examples around me,” she said. “In the families I saw, women carried an enormous and disproportionate workload.”
Family (associative image) | J. Stacevičiaus / LRT nuotr.
