In This Issue:
- Deepening Depopulation
- England and Wales Fertility Hits Record Low
- South Africa Fertility Keeps Falling
- Communist China
- China Targets House Church Lawyers
- Shanghai Makes Childbirth Free
- Science Gone Mad
- 22-Year-Old Embryo Born Through IVF
- Single Men Turn to Overseas Surrogacy
- Pro-Life Around the World
- Liechtenstein Abortion Push Stalls
- Assisted Suicide Deaths Could Surge
- Pro-Life on the Home Front
- Pro-Life Groups Urge Planned Parenthood Defunding
- Louisiana Challenges Telehealth Abortion Pills
- Massachusetts Abortion Law Faces Repeal Effort
- Good News
- Thousands March for Life in London
- PRI Research & Resources
- Family Planning 2030
Deepening Depopulation
England and Wales Fertility Hits Record Low: The fertility rate in England and Wales fell to a record-low 1.39 children per woman in 2025, down from 1.41 in 2024. Just 585,396 babies were born, the lowest number since 1977 and down from 594,677 the previous year. Births declined across every region of England, while the average age of mothers rose to 31.1 years.
South Africa Fertility Keeps Falling: South Africa’s fertility rate has fallen steadily from 2.78 children per woman in 2008 to 2.21 in 2025, with 2026 estimates placing it at about 2.12. The country’s population still exceeds 63 million, but it is gradually aging: adults age 60 and older rose from 7% of the population in 1996 to 9.8% in 2022.
Communist China
China Targets House Church Lawyers: Chinese authorities pressured attorney Ruth Wang to leave her law firm after she represented Christian pastors and members of Beijing’s Zion Church, which saw 18 members arrested last year. The firm’s founder lost his law license, while other attorneys were suspended and ordered to abandon Zion Church cases. Facing mounting pressure, Wang ultimately left China and is now seeking resettlement abroad.
Shanghai Makes Childbirth Free: Shanghai will eliminate out-of-pocket maternal care costs beginning in October as officials struggle to reverse the city’s collapsing birth rate. Women covered by city medical insurance will receive a 4,500 yuan ($671) maternity allowance, with additional eligible costs fully reimbursed. Shanghai’s fertility rate was just 0.66 last year, while residents aged 65 and older now make up 30% of its registered population.
Science Gone Mad
22-Year-Old Embryo Born Through IVF: A 54-year-old Greek woman has given birth to a baby girl who spent more than 22 years frozen as an IVF embryo. The child was conceived in the same IVF cycle as her brother, born in 2004, who died last year. The couple reportedly still has another nine embryos in storage, demonstrating how the IVF industry routinely leaves human embryos frozen for decades.
Read our IVF fact sheet here.
Single Men Turn to Overseas Surrogacy: More than 100 single men over age 40 have applied for legal recognition as fathers to babies born through surrogacy in the UK. Although commercial surrogacy is illegal domestically, British citizens can pay for surrogacy abroad and later seek parental recognition at home. These unsettling stories highlight how surrogacy commodifies children, deliberately separates babies from their mothers, and exposes women to exploitation for the benefit of paying clients.
Pro-Life Around the World
Liechtenstein Abortion Push Stalls: Liechtenstein’s parliament narrowly voted 13–12 to legalize abortion during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy and allow the procedure to be covered by health insurance. However, Hereditary Prince Alois has pledged to veto the measure, saying it does not sufficiently protect unborn life. Liechtenstein voters previously rejected abortion legalization in a 2011 referendum, with 52% voting against it.
Assisted Suicide Deaths Could Surge: A new government assessment of the UK’s revived assisted suicide bill warns that poverty, inadequate healthcare and abuse could pressure vulnerable people toward assisted death. The government also raised its central estimate for annual assisted-suicide deaths in Year 10 by 60%, from 2,183 to 3,502. Its high scenario projects 6,257 deaths annually—more than 17 every day.
Pro-Life on the Home Front
Pro-Life Groups Urge Planned Parenthood Defunding: A coalition of 39 pro-life and faith organizations are urging the Trump administration to bar Planned Parenthood from receiving federal funds. The groups want officials to complete an investigation into whether Planned Parenthood affiliates improperly received nearly $88 million in COVID-era Paycheck Protection Program loans. If grounds for debarment are established, Planned Parenthood could be excluded from federal programs and funding for up to three years.
Louisiana Challenges Telehealth Abortion Pills: A federal appeals court is considering Louisiana v. FDA, a case challenging federal rules that allow the abortion drug mifepristone to be prescribed through telehealth and mailed to patients. Louisiana argues the policy undermines state pro-life laws and puts women at greater risk by eliminating in-person visits. If successful, the lawsuit could restrict telehealth access to mifepristone nationwide.
Massachusetts Abortion Law Faces Repeal Effort: Massachusetts Citizens for Life has joined a referendum effort seeking to suspend and repeal Chapter 188, the state’s new abortion law signed August 10. The law removes previous restrictions on abortions after 24 weeks and is scheduled to take effect November 8. Organizers need 37,289 certified signatures to pursue repeal and 49,716 to suspend the law while the referendum proceeds.
Good News
Thousands March for Life in London: More than 10,000 pro-life advocates gathered in London for the annual March for Life UK, according to organizers, marching from Westminster to Parliament Square in defense of unborn life. Fifteen Catholic bishops participated, with many attending Mass at Westminster Cathedral beforehand. Marchers called for the protection of human life from conception to natural death amid continuing debates over Britain’s abortion laws.
PRI Research & Resources
Family Planning 2030: This week, we highlight PRI’s investigation into Family Planning 2030 (FP2030), a global network that presents itself as a technical and neutral family-planning platform. PRI’s research demonstrates that FP2030 has discreetly integrated abortion as an essential component of its family-planning model, hiding it behind technical and rights-based language. The report examines FP2030’s structure, funding, partners, and efforts to promote and normalize abortion worldwide.
Quote of the Week
“The first and most fundamental of all human rights is the right to life, and when this right is denied all other rights are threatened.”
~ Pope John Paul II
