# Global birth rates are falling…phones are a big reason why

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/ft-news-briefing-73509/global-birth-rates-are-falling-phones-are-a-big-reason-why
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/ft-news-briefing-73509/global-birth-rates-are-falling-phones-are-a-big-reason-why.md
Podcast: [FT News Briefing](https://stenobird.com/podcast/ft-news-briefing-73509)
Published: 2026-05-26T04:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://shows.acast.com/ftnewsbriefing/episodes/global-birth-rates-are-fallingphones-are-a-big-reason-why
Audio file: https://sphinx.acast.com/p/acast/s/ftnewsbriefing/e/6a10a31711eba3cf15bc7d65/media.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/ft-news-briefing-73509/episodes/global-birth-rates-are-falling-phones-are-a-big-reason-why
Duration seconds: 675

## Resource

In more than two-thirds of the world, the average number of children born to each woman has fallen below the “replacement rate”. Employment, home ownership and education are still big factors. But increasingly, so are mobile phones. Mentioned in this podcast: Why birth rates are falling everywhere all at once Credit: The Columbus Dispatch Want to get in touch? Email us at podcasts@ft.com Note: The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts  Today’s FT News Briefing was hosted by Victoria Craig , and produced by Marc Filippino. Our show was mixed by Sam Giovinco. Additional help from Gavin Kallmann. Our executive producer is Topher Forhecz. Flo Phillips is the FT’s Global Head of Audio. The show’s theme music is by Metaphor Music.  Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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## Transcript

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