England and Wales Fertility Rate Hits Record Low

The total fertility rate has dropped to 1.44 children per woman, marking the lowest level since records began in 1938.

In 2023, the number of live births in England and Wales fell to 591,072, the lowest since 1977.
Economic uncertainty, housing issues, and career priorities are contributing factors to declining birth rates.
The average age of mothers in 2023 remained stable at 30.9 years, while the average age of fathers increased slightly.
Stillbirth rates decreased for some ethnic groups but remained higher for Asian, black, and other ethnic groups compared to the national average.
The population of England and Wales continues to grow due to net migration, despite natural population decline.