A depression will depress everything... including birthrates. There are other reasons also but economic depression makes it impossible for people to marry and have children. They lie about everything... look around... look at the empty buildings for sale and rent... same with homes... same with new cars. Does anyone still believe the US Government when they say we are growing at 4.8% and that we have 7% unemployment?
Well, they could be “massaging the figures”, but there is an alternate explanation. It could be increasing sectionalism. IOW, 4.8% and 7% are averages for the whole country, and as parts of the nation are as you say empty, depressed, with rocketing unemployment and collapsing businesses all over the place, it follows that other parts of the country are doing VERY well indeed.