World News for Students of English

04-05-2026 15:00

Birth rates are falling in many countries, and this is creating a major change in the world’s population. There are fewer children and more elderly people. This is especially true in places like Scotland and Japan.

In Scotland, the number of births is at a record low, the lowest in 160 years. Experts call this a silent emergency because the population is getting older very fast.

There are many reasons why people choose not to have children or wait until they are older. The high cost of living is a big factor. Raising a child is very expensive, and many people worry about housing and money. In the past, people often had children first and then found a career. Now, many people want a stable life before they start a family. Some people simply choose to be childfree because it is no longer a social requirement.

An ageing population creates problems for the government. There are fewer workers to pay taxes, but the cost of caring for elderly people is growing. However, a smaller population might be better for the planet. With fewer people, there is less pressure on water, food, and the environment.

Difficult words: birth rate (the number of babies that are born in a year), silent (something that does not make a noise or is not talked about much), ageing (getting older).

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