The United Nations has said the world is experiencing [the / a] birth rate crisis. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has released [a / the] report called "State of World Population 2025". It highlights how [few / fewer] and fewer children are being born all [over / under] the world. At the same time, people are living [long / longer] . Falling birth rates and increased longevity are creating many problems. Smaller numbers of [works / workers] are having to [pay / paid] the pensions of older people who have [retiring / retired] . Dr Natalia Kanem, executive director of UNFPA, said: "Many countries are struggling with [agent / ageing] and shrinking populations, labour shortages, and rising healthcare and pension costs. These are real [concern / concerns] ."
The United Nations surveyed over 14,000 people in 14 countries on five continents [for / to] make its report. One of the [key / keyed] findings was of the global [virility / fertility] crisis. The UN said the [high / height] cost of parenthood is the biggest [reason / reasons] for women not having children. Many couples want children, but they cannot afford them. Nearly 20 per cent of adults believe they will not be [ability / able] to have the number of children they want. There were other reasons for [filling / falling] birth rates. These include [slow / low] salaries, expensive housing, and worries about the future of our world. The UN said [once / one] solution to the crisis is to create "family-friendly policies, such as affordable childcare and paid [leave / leaf] for all carers".
