Fertility rate in England and Wales plummets to record low – this is how we compare with the rest of the world
Fertility rate in England and Wales falls for a third year
- The fertility rate in England and Wales has dropped to a new record low of 1.41 in 2024, the lowest since records began in 1938, marking a third consecutive year of decline.
- Despite a slight increase in the number of births last year, the overall population growth meant that fertility rates continued to fall.
- Natural population growth is in decline, with deaths projected to exceed births from 2030, though net migration currently offsets this trend.
- Fertility rates show significant regional variation across England and Wales, with all areas remaining below the 2.1 rate needed for natural population stability.
- The UK's fertility rate decline is more rapid than that of other G7 nations, and women are having their first children at an older age, with financial pressures identified as a key factor.