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On November 4, 2024, the Youth Research Institute hosted an event focused on the global population crisis. The central theme of the event was how the declining birth rates worldwide threaten societal sustainability and the potential implications for future generations.

Dr. Levente Székely, Director of the Youth Research Institute, opened the event, stressing that the population crisis is no longer solely an issue for developed societies but is increasingly a critical global concern. Following his remarks, Dr. Georgina Kiss-Kozma, the Institute's Research Director, presented findings from their 2024 research on family and relationships, with a particular emphasis on online dating and young people's attitudes toward starting families.

The evening’s featured guest, Dr. Paul Morland, a leading demographer from the United Kingdom, highlighted that population decline has escalated into a global issue. He noted that survey data often reveals a disparity between the number of children people wish to have and the actual number they do, with many reporting they desire children but ultimately have none. Morland explained that the main challenges are not merely declining population numbers but the aging of societies and the resulting shortage of young workers. His presentation also explored factors influencing birth rates in different countries and strategies that could potentially increase fertility rates.

The presentations were followed by a panel discussion featuring Dr. Paul Morland, Dr. Georgina Kiss-Kozma, and Dr. András Pári, Deputy Scientific Director of the Kopp Mária Institute for Demography and Families (KINCS). The panelists discussed why younger generations tend to have fewer children than previous ones and why parenthood is increasingly postponed until the thirties and forties. They also examined national family support policies aimed at encouraging childbearing and the cultural shifts that contribute to the decreasing priority young people place on starting families.

The event underscored the complex social, economic, and cultural roots of the population crisis, with speakers highlighting the need for a shift in perspective and governmental action to secure a sustainable future.