Population Pulse | Issue 36
- Carol Wickline
- July 30, 2026
- Population Pulse Archive
- 0 Comments
A Disturbing Report, and an Even More Alarming Goal
The Institute for Family Studies recently released a lengthy study titled The Demographic Dead End: 2026 State of Fertility Report. Let us start by clearly stating their goals could not possibly be further from NPG’s objectives.
The authors go on for forty-five pages outlining everything that is wrong with a declining fertility rate. They state:
"U.S. population growth has abruptly slowed down in recent years, driven in large part by fertility rates collapsing to record lows. If fertility rates continue their recent decline, U.S. population will peak around 351 million and begin declining in the 2050s. If fertility rates stabilize, population will peak around 366 million and begin declining in the 2080s.” | NPG’s response: Thank goodness! Our country desperately needs to experience a major decline in population. With a current population of 342 million people, we struggle to adequately feed, house, clothe, educate, and employ all Americans. A slow and gradual reduction in the size of our population would benefit all residents and allow our nation to better provide for its citizens. A smaller population would also be easier on our environment as emissions would be reduced and natural resources would be better preserved. |
“…without a new birth of family life in America, the greatest days of freedom will indeed be behind us.” | NPG’s response: This is absurd! A smaller population allows everyone more freedom in every aspect of life. Freedom to explore our National Parks. Freedom to move about freely without sitting in miles of backups on the highway. Freedom to breathe clean air and drink clean water. A larger population will never provide more freedom. |
“American population growth has already slowed dramatically and is likely to grind to a halt or even go into reverse in the relatively near future. Some current workers may see population decline before they reach retirement, if current trends continue. This is a serious problem and is not the family future most Americans desire.” | NPG’s response:If Americans wanted more children they would have them. A declining fertility rate is the most obvious sign that Americans have reached their capacity to provide more and more for a larger pool of takers. Fertility is the most personal freedom an individual has – and Americans, on average, have repeatedly decided to not have large families. |
“Unfortunately, tackling this decline is not just a problem of fixing one or two small issues—fertility is shaped by innumerable factors, including many cultural and social norms governments may struggle to change. Nonetheless, if policymakers will consider policy changes equal in magnitude to the size of the problem we face, Americans need not have anything to fear. Demographic decline is a choice, one that our nation’s leaders can choose to avoid, if they will invest in the future of family. Perhaps, with luck, at our 350th anniversary, we might finally reach Wigglesworth’s billion.” | NPG’s response: Declining fertility is not a problem at all – it is a tremendous opportunity to set our nation on a new course. That new course will offer an environmentally-sound nation with a strong economy and opportunities for all, but only if we reach a smaller, truly sustainable population. |
NPG readers, please speak out on ridiculous reports such as this. Many Americans do not fully understand the many nuances of our work, but they cannot be allowed to believe things like this.
The entire report from The Institute for Family Studies can be found here.
For a more realistic approach to our future, please review NPG’s Proposed National Population Policy.
Ontario Wildfires Send Hazardous Smoke Across the Midwest
Climate change is increasing wildfire risk, and as populations continue to grow, more people are exposed to dangerous smoke that can travel hundreds or even thousands of miles.
Millions of Americans recently awoke to hazy skies and unhealthy air as smoke from nearly 200 active wildfires burning across 735,000 hectares (1.8 million acres) in Ontario drifted across the Midwest. Premier Doug Ford pledged that the province would "not spare a penny" fighting the fires and protecting affected communities. Air quality reached unhealthy levels in parts of Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan, demonstrating how major wildfires can threaten public health hundreds of miles from where they begin.
The smoke generated by these fires poses health risks well beyond the burn zone. Scientists say the smallest particles in wildfire smoke – about one micron in size – can travel the farthest and penetrate deep into the lungs before entering the bloodstream. Exposure has been linked to asthma attacks, cardiovascular problems and other serious health effects, and research estimates that wildfire smoke contributes to tens of thousands of deaths each year.
Wildfire smoke is becoming more than a seasonal nuisance – it is an emerging public health challenge affecting millions of people far from the flames themselves. As climate change contributes to more frequent and intense wildfires, growing populations place more people at risk from dangerous smoke that can travel hundreds or even thousands of miles.
To read more about the wildfires, click here and here.
To see where wildfires are today, click here.
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Extreme Heat Tests America's Electric Grid
As climate change drives more frequent heat waves and electricity demand continues to rise, America's aging electric grid is facing increasing pressure from a growing population, expanding data centers and rising electricity demand.
When dangerous heat blanketed much of the eastern United States this summer, the operator of the nation's largest electric grid issued repeated emergency warnings as millions of homes and businesses increased air conditioner use. Electricity prices surged during peak demand periods, while congestion on transmission lines underscored the growing strain on the nation's power system.
The challenge extends beyond a single heat wave. Rising electricity demand – from population growth, expanding communities, businesses, and energy-intensive technologies such as data centers – is increasing pressure on an electric grid that is struggling to keep pace. At the same time, expanding transmission capacity and new power generation have struggled to meet rising demand, raising concerns about reliability during periods of extreme weather.
Climate change is making the problem even more difficult to manage. Extreme heat not only drives up electricity demand as millions rely on air conditioning, but it can also reduce the efficiency of power generation by warming rivers and reservoirs used for cooling and intensifying drought conditions. As the nation's population continues to grow, balancing rising electricity needs with a resilient and reliable power grid has become an increasingly important challenge.
To read about the nation’s electric grid, click here, here, and here.
$50,000 in Scholarships for Deserving Students
NPG recently announced the winners of our 2026 Student Scholarship Contest, and we encourage you to review the list and read some of the essays. Since 2006, NPG has awarded $446,500 in scholarship prizes to 331 students as we encourage them to consider U.S. population size and growth in their studies and personal decisions. Over the years, many very generous NPG donors have bestowed a memorial scholarship in the name of a loved one. Please contact Deborah Miller at dmiller@npg.org if you are interested in pursuing this option. Additionally, NPG members may contribute to our general scholarship fund. We appreciate your strong support of our educational programs!
NPG takes great pride in its scholarship program because it allows us to connect with thousands of students each year. It is always very rewarding to learn that many students fully embrace our ideals to reach a smaller, truly sustainable, U.S. and world population.
The 2026 Student Scholarship Contest winners can be viewed here.
