In society, we have specific terms for those who have lost parents or spouses, like ‘orphaned’ and ‘widowed.’ However, the English language lacks a common term for individuals who grow up without siblings. Historically, there was little need for such a term.
This situation is shifting. Over the past five decades, the proportion of American mothers with only one child has nearly doubled. It rose from 11 percent in 1976 to about 20 percent today. Meanwhile, larger families have become less common, with only 14 percent having four or more children by 2014 compared to 40 percent in 1976. In 2024, the U.S. fertility rate hit a historic low of 1.6 births per woman, which falls short of the 2.1 replacement rate.
This trend is prevalent in Europe, where single-child households have surpassed those with two or three children. If current trends continue, this phenomenon might soon become the norm in America as well.
As an economist trained during a time when smaller families were seen as beneficial, I was accustomed to the idea that fewer children allowed for more substantial investment in each child’s development. This quality-over-quantity mindset has become prevalent among modern parents, who often express a desire to provide ‘everything’ for their children.
After years of interviewing parents from large families, I’ve realized that the standard economic perspective was incomplete. Some developmental aspects of a child can only be provided by siblings, regardless of parental resources or attentiveness.
In 2019, I traveled across the United States to speak with mothers of five or more children for my book, ‘Hannah’s Children.’ These mothers, who were diverse in their religious beliefs, often shared a common sentiment: They found it easier to nurture good character in children when raising a larger family.
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