If the closings of birthing units at multiple Maine hospitals were not enough of a red flag signaling the downward descent of its demography, a new report shows that one of the few areas of growth in the Pine Tree State is among DINKs. According to ManlyBands, Maine now ranks seventh among U.S. states riding the DINK wave.
That eyebrow-arching acronym refers to that sub-sect of the population known as Double Income, No Kids (DINK), which is a trend also rising in California, Maryland, Alaska, Nevada, Vermont and Rhode Island — all ‘lifestyle’ states, which is another was of saying magnets for the self-centered and self-pampering.
Maine saw a 3.8 percent decrease in total births between 2022 and 2023, dropping from 12,079 in 2022 to 11,617 in 2023 — a decline than is more than twice as steep as the national average of 1.71 percent, the study shows.
There are of course various reasons young couples may choose not to have children. Concerns about the economy and rising prices could cause would-be families to play a wait and see approach before expanding. There is also a rising sense of general despair about the fate of the human race. Then there is, of course, the “we’re just doing us right now, mmm’ok?” mentality, and absent deeper sociological research, it is difficult to say which of the three is most responsible for the current trend.
“The data from Maine reflects a broader national trend, where declining birth rates are increasingly influenced by the rise of the DINK lifestyle,” ManlyBands, a wedding ring company, said in issuing their report.
“This shift highlights how modern couples are rethinking traditional timelines, favoring financial independence, career growth, and personal freedom over immediate family planning,” the company continued, adding: “As these evolving values shape demographic patterns, local leaders may need to reconsider future planning around education systems, housing demands, and workforce sustainability.”
Each of these problem factors — failing education, unaffordable housing, and uncertainty for work prospects — is pronounced in Maine. In recent years, each has gotten worse.
The only other group in Maine that appears to be growing is the ever-expanding circle of those running to succeed Governor Janet Mills, whose administration has presided over this unfortunate decline. Should any one of these candidates be wondering what they should be running on, they can now thank a wedding band seller for essentially writing their platform…
…unless, of course, they prefer that sparse design of the state flag with only a tree and a star, in other words, devoid of people. After all, isn’t that what draws rich out-of-staters to us in the first place?
