BKKBN: Economic Factors Are the Main Reason Young People Are Reluctant to Marry

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Population and Family Development (Kemendukbangga)/National Population and Family Planning Board (BKKBN) has identified economic factors as the primary cause behind the growing reluctance among young people to marry and have children.

Kemendukbangga/BKKBN Secretary Budi Setiyono said issues such as job security, home ownership, and future guarantees significantly influence these decisions.

“Of the various factors we have examined, the main issue behind young people’s reluctance to marry remains the economy — money, the difficulty of home ownership, high unemployment rates, and uncertainty about the future,” Budi said in Jakarta on Monday.

He stressed that these issues cannot be resolved by a single institution alone, which is why the government is building multi-sector cooperation spanning job creation, aligning the education system with market needs, and strengthening the social security system.

“We are working with nearly all relevant ministries and institutions on how to prepare employment opportunities, how to align education with industrial needs — all of this must be calculated together,” he said.

“If people have no certainty about old age and healthcare, it is only natural that they hesitate to have children. Therefore, the roles of government and private insurance must complement each other,” Budi said.

He also warned that the phenomenon of delaying marriage and not wanting children could give rise to further social problems, including an increased risk of illegal abortion practices if not accompanied by reproductive health education.

To that end, the government is promoting the strengthening of pre-marital and reproductive health education through cooperation with the Ministry of Religious Affairs, as well as various population programmes targeting adolescents and young people.