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The fertility rate in England and Wales fell to 1.44 children per woman in 2023, the lowest since records began in 1938 according to new government data.
There were 591,072 live births recorded in England and Wales last year, the figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reveal, which was down over 14,000 from 2022’s figure and represents the lowest number since 1977 (569,259).
As a result, the average total fertility rate (TFR), which is the average number of children born to a woman over her lifetime, was the lowest on record, down from 1.49 children per woman in 2022 and 1.55 in 2021.
The average age of fathers was found to have increased to 33.8, while mothers’ average age remained 30.9 – the same as in 2022.
The decline in fertility rates was found to be most dramatic in the 20-24 and 25-29 age groups.
UK Total Fertility Rate has fallen to 1.44 children per woman, the lowest on record.
— Miriam Cates (@miriam_cates) October 28, 2024
This means a group of 100 people in Britain today can expect to have just 52 grandchildren between them.
This is quite simply an economic catastrophe. We must turn our attention to it. pic.twitter.com/MG1Bd6lIW4
This comes just weeks after Sky News reported that the UK’s fertility rate is falling faster than any other G7 nation, having fallen 18.8% since 2010.
The analysis by the Centre for Progressive Policy (CPP) found that Italy came second (-14.4%) and the US third (-13.8%).
Meanwhile, research conducted by the Centre for Longitudinal Studies found that “only a quarter of millennials who want children are trying for them”.
The report found that “not feeling ready, financial pressures, career considerations and not having a suitable partner” were the main reasons cited by millennials for not trying to have children currently.
Lead author of that study, Dr Alina Pelikh said that the falling fertility rate was linked to the challenges faced by younger generations.
“These findings highlight the challenges this generation faces as they weigh up their childbearing plans in their early thirties. While those without children may be navigating the complexities of finding a partner and establishing their careers before parenthood, parents are grappling with the realities of balancing existing family and financial responsibilities with the prospect of having more children.
“While parents will naturally have many reasons for deciding on the timing and spacing of their children, it is likely that current cost-of-living pressures, with rising housing and childcare expenses, are also shaping the environment in which this group is making fertility decisions,” Dr Pelikh said.
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