Fertility in England and Wales has fallen to a record low level

• Fertility in England and Wales decreased to 1.41 in 2024
• Population growth was due to immigration, not birth rates
• The average age of mothers at the birth of their first child increased to 29.4 years

Fertility in England and Wales has fallen to a record low level, according to data from the Office for National Statistics. In 2024, the overall fertility rate was 1.41 children per woman, down from 1.42 in 2023. This is the lowest figure since data collection began in 1938.

Although the number of births in 2024 increased by 0.6%, overall population growth was attributed to decreased fertility. Throughout the year in England and Wales, 594,677 children were born against 568,000 deaths, indicating that population growth is primarily occurring due to immigration.

Differences in fertility rates are observed between different regions. The highest fertility rate was recorded in Luton (2.0), while in the City of London it was only 0.32. Overall, for population stability, a fertility rate of 2.1 is necessary.

According to the data, women in England and Wales are increasingly becoming mothers at an older age. In 2024, the average age of mothers at the birth of their first child was 29.4 years, compared to 26.4 years in 2000. In London, women become mothers at an average age of 31 years.

Politicians express concern about the recorded decline in birth rates, believing that it could lead to problems in ensuring pension sustainability, as the number of working-age population is decreasing.

Tags: Europe