š Population in Peril? Musk Says āHave 3 Kids or the World Collapsesā š²
- MediaFx
- 6 hours ago
- 2 min read
TL;DR Elon Musk is sounding the alarm on declining global birth rates š, urging parents to have threeĀ children to offset those who are childless or have fewer kids. His warning is backed by a Fortune/UN report setting the replacement fertility rate at 2.7āhigher than the traditional 2.1 benchmark. Musk warns that civilisations like Ancient Rome collapsed partly due to low birth rates and believes humanity could repeat the same mistake if fertility doesnāt rebound. Global fertility ratesā1.66 in the US, 1.3 in Italy/Japan, 1.9 in Indiaāare all below this new threshold.

š¼ Three Kids or Bust?
Musk reposted a userās data thread citing a new replacement fertility rate of 2.7 children per woman and stressed:
āPeople who have kids do need to have 3 kids to make up for those who have 0 orāÆ1 kid or population will collapse.ā
His concern isnāt newāhe previously warned that āpopulation collapse ⦠a certaintyā if low birth rates persist.
š Fertility Rates Today
The U.S. rate is 1.66, Italy 1.29, Japan 1.30āwell below the updated 2.7 replacement rate.
India's fertility rate is down to 1.9 births/womanābelow the older 2.1 replacement benchmark.
Since the 1960s, worldwide fertility has plunged from around 5.3 to under 2.5.
šļø Historyās Warning
Musk draws comparisons to Ancient Rome, claiming low birth rates significantly contributed to its fallāsomething he says is often āshockingly overlooked by most historiansā.
š¶ Musk Is Walkinā the Talk
Heās fathered 14 children with five different women, calling his large family his personal effort against underpopulation.
Reportedly aiming even higher, Musk has spoken about assembling a ālegionālevelā brood before the apocalypse strikes.
š¬ Public Reaction & Debate
His advice sparked debate, with many netizens pointing out that raising three kids today is costly and not everyone can afford it.
Experts warn that economic pressures, housing, and gender imbalances affect fertility choices more than simple advice can address.
š¤ Why It Matters
Low birth rates can lead to aging populations, labor shortages, slower economic growth, and strain on social systemsĀ .
Policy solutions include family-friendly incentives, welfare reforms, and sometimes more liberal immigrationāyet these come with complex social implications.
āļø MediaFx Opinion
From a workingāclass viewpoint, the real issue is not whether people shouldĀ have three kids but whether society enablesĀ them to. Lower wages, soaring living costs, and inadequate childcare make large families a burdenānot a moral failure. Instead of guilt-tripping parents, governments and corporate bosses must ensure quality affordable housing, universal childcare, parental leave, and jobs with dignity. Only then can every family confidently say, āYes, I canāand willāraise more kids.ā
Join the convoWhat do you think? Can India make it easier for families to grow, or should the idea of having 3 kids stay a dream? Drop your thoughts in the comments!