The world’s richest man, Elon Musk, has expressed concern over the declining global birth rate, warning that humanity could eventually disappear from Earth if urgent steps are not taken to address the trend.
Musk made the remarks in a video circulating on social media, where he lamented that birth rates were declining significantly in many countries across the world.
According to him, the birth rate recorded in the United States in 2025 was alarmingly low, describing it as the lowest on record.
The billionaire raised concerns that fewer people were choosing to have children, warning that the trend could have serious consequences for the future of humanity.
He stressed that having children remained an important part of sustaining human existence, noting that without humans, humanity itself would cease to exist.
Musk said, “It is concerning that the birth rate in the United States has been below the replacement rate since I was born around 1971, thereabouts. I think last year was the lowest birth rate on record. It was very low.
“It seems like a trend in every country on earth. It is worrying, and if something doesn’t happen, humanity is going to disappear.
“I think it is very important to have kids; no humans, no humanity.”
His comments have drawn attention to concerns about declining fertility rates and the long-term implications of population changes in several parts of the world.
Replacement-level fertility refers to the average number of children women need to have for a population to replace itself from one generation to the next, in the absence of migration.
Although declining birth rates do not mean humanity is about to disappear, sustained low fertility can contribute to population ageing, a shrinking workforce and increased pressure on pension systems and healthcare services.
