Men’s sperm count levels have fallen by half over the last 50 years and many men are choosing not to have children or get married. Some are calling it “spermageddon”, a slightly glib term for a worrying public health emergency. But this crisis is too often ignored by governments, policymakers and religious institutions.
A major 2022 meta-analysis found that sperm concentration in men fell from 101.2 to 49 million/mL between 1973 and 2018, while total sperm count fell by 62.3 per cent. The decline appears to have accelerated since 2000, raising serious concerns about men’s ability to reproduce.
Worldwide, over half of all countries show fertility rates below the replacement level of 2.1 births per woman, with 198 out of 204 countries projected in analysis by Lancet/IHME to be below replacement levels by 2100 – and poor male reproductive health is a recognised contributor to infertility.
Ireland’s fertility rate has moved from roughly replacement level to well below it within a decade: from 1.9 in 2015 to 1.5 in 2025. Birth numbers over the same period fell from 65,909 in 2015 to 54,125 in 2025. When birth rates are lower, the population becomes top-heavy with older people and fewer young people underneath to support them, putting a strain on healthcare and social welfare systems.
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The average age of first-time mothers in Ireland is 31.8 years, up from 28.7 in 2005. Surprisingly, the Central Statistics Office does not publish figures for the age of first-time fathers. Internationally, most fathers are two to three years older, so we could infer that the average age of first-time fathers in Ireland is in the 33-35 range – with many older. This is not optimal from a male fertility perspective.
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Sperm is healthiest in men in their late 20s to mid-30s. Sperm from older men is associated with increased birth defects, including chromosomal anomalies and congenital disorders. In the younger age range, semen quality is ideal, with measurable deterioration beginning after age 35 – when you might call it “geriatric sperm” – and accelerating after age 40. Advanced paternal age has been associated with a higher risk of gene mutation in the children of older fathers and a greater risk of pregnancy miscarriage too.
Although scientists don’t know why men’s fertility rates are in decline, some research points to increasing rates of obesity and diabetes. Male reproductive health is considered a reflection of men’s overall health and some researchers believe pollution and environmental contaminants are additional factors in declining sperm counts.
It is clear that if we are serious about tackling falling fertility rates, we need to look at men’s health.
In Europe, the average ratio of male-to-female childlessness is 1.56, meaning men are generally more likely to be childless than women later in life. In Georgia, fewer men are childless relative to women (a ratio of 0.86), while in the Czech Republic, more than twice as many men are childless compared to women (a ratio of 2.24). Finnish and Swedish data shows lifetime childlessness of roughly 25 per cent in men versus 20 per cent in women.
In discussions that tend to be dominated by conservative, pro-natalist voices in the US and parts of Europe on delayed family formation, there is little mention of the real crises of affordable housing, workers’ stagnant pay, inflexible work, poor childcare and parental supports or ensuring men and women share duties equally. In these narratives, women are often held responsible for what is framed as societal collapse.
Conservative movements, far-right organisations and religious groups point to women’s supposed lack of interest in motherhood and marriage – too much education, financial freedom, reproductive choice and even voting rights have been blamed – but the data also shows something else. Both men and women are less focused on family.
One rarely discussed part of the picture is that marriage may no longer be a priority for men who want children. In late 2025, nearly 40 per cent of births in Ireland took place outside marriage or civil partnership. We have a rate of 3.8 marriages per 1,000 population in 2024, down from 4.7 in 2014. When marriage does happen, it tends to be later, averaging 35.9 years for brides and 37.7 years for grooms in 2024.
If men’s fertility is impacted by obesity and diabetes, as some research now suggests, then men need to be assisted to mind their health and protect their fertility. Instead of taking testosterone, steroids and bulking up – all shown to lower fertility – younger men may need to be advised to exercise properly and cook healthy, nutritious foods that improve sperm health.
Eating a diet rich in antioxidants, healthy fats and minerals may improve sperm quality. Experts suggest a Mediterranean-style diet packed with vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds and fish, while limiting processed meats, trans fats and excess sugar. Anabolic steroids don’t help either.
It’s also important for couples to work on relationships. International data shows that in many countries, younger men are leaning right, while women are leaning left. Pornography, AI relationships and the restrictive views of masculinity that dominate online add to the sense that men and women are drifting apart and want different things from relationships.
When women choose a long-term partner, they prioritise kindness, decency and a genuine sense of partnership over wealth and dominance, according to decades of research. That’s the opposite of what the male influencer brigade is selling. Bridging these gaps takes mutual effort.
It’s not helpful to blame either women of men for the so-called emergency of population decline. We must focus instead on measures that make a real difference. It is time to strengthen economic security, expand access to affordable childcare, promote gender equality within households and safeguard reproductive autonomy to support young adults in realising their family aspirations.
Margaret E. Ward is chief executive of Clear Eye, a leadership consultancy. margaret@cleareye.ie
