Main content

Why Elon Musk and JD Vance want a US baby boom

Pro-natalists warn civilisation will collapse otherwise.

There is a small but growing group of people in the US who are concerned that civilisation might collapse if people don’t have enough children. They’re called pro-natalists, and they argue that less children will lead to fewer workers and smaller economies, leading to an eventual collapse. Their solution: to save humanity people simply need to have kids. High-profile supporters of the movement include tech bros like Elon Musk and Donald Trump.

The ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½â€™s population correspondent Stephanie Hegarty tell us more about the movement and how it came about. We are also introduced to the Collins family, one of the leading pro-natalist families who want to have as many children as they can.

Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld
Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk
WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6
Presenter: William Lee Adams
Producer: Mora Morrison
Video Journalist: Baldeep Chahal
Editor: Verity Wilde

Available now

11 minutes

Last on

Wed 18 Jun 2025 02:50GMT

Broadcasts

  • Tue 17 Jun 2025 17:50GMT
  • Wed 18 Jun 2025 02:50GMT

Podcast