Tesla CEO Elon Musk has once again expressed concern over declining birth rates — this time drawing a direct comparison to the Roman Empire and what he describes as a recurring pattern in prosperous civilizations.
Replying to a post on X about the rising economic burdens of raising children, Musk pointed out that population decline often coincides with extended periods of national wealth.
“Throughout history, periods of extended prosperity for civilizations have always led to population declines,” he wrote. “Counterintuitively, it is when civilizations are richest that they have fewer children, as most people cannot cognitively override the limbic attraction of hedonism and envy.”
Ancient Rome as a cautionary tale
Musk singled out the Roman Empire, which he said faced similar issues around 50 BC. “Low birth rates were a big deal for the Romans… they debated endlessly about how to solve the problem and they failed,” he added.
His comments followed a viral post that listed modern deterrents to parenthood, including the rising costs of inflation and education, delayed financial independence, and reduced need for children due to government pension systems.
Musk’s global birthrate warnings
The billionaire has long sounded the alarm over what he sees as a looming demographic crisis, warning that nations like South Korea, Japan, and Singapore are already seeing the consequences of shrinking populations.
He has previously called population collapse “the biggest threat to civilization” and dismissed concerns about overpopulation as outdated. His latest remarks appear to be part of an ongoing effort to shift the narrative toward long-term sustainability through higher birth rates.