We asked people – across 14 countries, which together represent more than a third of the global population – what they actually want for their reproductive lives and futures, and whether they believe they will be able to realize those ambitions. What we find is that too few people are able to exercise true choice when it comes to some of the most intimate and consequential decisions in their lives. Our human population is the subject of growing interest – and intensifying anxiety. The concerns that draw most attention are declining fertility rates, ageing and workforce shortages, while many still argue that the greatest threat to the planet is overpopulation.