Men need to step up their game when it comes to housework. We'll tell you why

Researchers found that in countries where men do more household chores, women tend to have more babies. The reverse is true in countries where men do less housework.

Also watch: Japan's birth rate hits all-time low

An analysis by the Nikkei newspaper of data from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development shows that in countries with higher fertility rates such as Belgium, France and Norway, men contribute more to household tasks. On the other hand, in countries where men are less involved in housework women have fewer babies.

The gap is more pronounced in Japan and South Korea, as women in these countries do 4-5 times more household work than men. In Japan, the birth rate has fallen to 1.34 children per woman and in South Korea, it has dropped to 0.84.

As per experts, this trend can have enormous implications. It can lead to an increasingly older global population and fewer working taxpayers to fund their pensions and health care. To maintain a steady population, a country's birth rate must be 2.1 or higher, researchers concluded.

Also watch: Air pollution linked with increased risk of infertility, new study finds