President Milei urges women to have more children while slashing childcare programs
President Javier Milei blamed women’s reproductive choices for Argentina’s low birth rate and called for higher fertility, even as his government has cut most family-support policies.
Argentine President Javier Milei, childless himself, accused women and the “green bandanas” of abortion activists of harming the nation’s demographic and pension outlook, urging higher birth rates to improve growth. Yet his government has dismantled most of the 50 care-related policies that existed, cutting budgets for the 1,000 Days Plan, breastfeeding kits, early-childhood centre construction, and disability benefits.
A UNFPA-led survey found 57 % of adults desire more children but are held back by financial, housing and time constraints. Only the Child-Rearing Index and a pension credit for mothers remain intact. Critics argue that without broader social support, the push for more births is unrealistic.
Why it matters
The clash between pro-birth rhetoric and shrinking family support raises doubts about Argentina’s ability to reverse its demographic decline.
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