Michigan Ranks No. 2 in U.S. for Adults Choosing Not to Have Kids

More people in Michigan are choosing not to have children, and apparently, we have one of the largest populations in the country doing it.

A new study found that Michigan ranks second in the nation for adults considered "childfree," meaning they do not have children and do not plan on having them in the future.

Michigan Ranks No. 2 for Childfree Adults

Michigan State University psychology professor Zachary Neal helped conduct the research and says roughly one in five adults in Michigan falls into that category.

Michigan is alongside states like California and New Hampshire, where around 20% of adults say having children is simply not something they want.

On the opposite end, that number drops closer to 10% in places like Louisiana, North Dakota and South Dakota.

Why Are So Many Michiganders Choosing to Be Childfree?

Researchers say there does not appear to be one easy explanation for why Michigan ranks so high.

Neal says the numbers do not suggest this is strictly a big-city or coastal trend, and money does not appear to completely explain it either. The answer could simply come down to personal choice.

For Some Michigan Couples, Being Childfree Means More Freedom

Rachel Fredrickson and Robin Malcolm have been together for 13 years and married for six. They say not having children gives them the freedom to travel and make plans without having to work around raising a family.

Researchers are still trying to determine why Michigan has such a large childfree population compared with other states.

Fredrickson and Malcolm say if they ever do change their minds, they would consider adoption.