Fertility rate hits record low in England and Wales
The latest total fertility rate (TFR) in England and Wales fell to a record low of 1.41 children per woman in 2024, according to the latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
This represents the third year in a row that the TFR has recorded record lows in these regions, remaining well below the replacement of approximately 2.1 children per woman.
The replacement rate describes the ratio of children born per woman required for a country’s population to remain stable without any net immigration.
Crude birth rate, general fertility rate, and maternity rate have also all decreased in England and Wales, with the City of London recording the lowest total fertility rate of 0.32.
The highest fertility rate of 2.0 was recorded in Luton.
Not only are people in England and Wales having fewer children, but the mean age of parents is also increasing.
In 2024, the standardised mean age of mothers increased to 31.0 years old, and to 33.9 years old for fathers.
London has the highest standardised mean age for mothers at 32.5 years old, 1.2 years older than the next highest region.
The latest total fertility rate figures from the ONS show a continuing trend of the UK relying on immigration for population growth.
Projections show that the population of the United Kingdom is expected to grow to over 76 million by 2047, driven solely by net migration.
Without migration, the UK’s population would be falling, with the ONS previously projecting that over the 10 years between mid-2022 and mid-2032, there would be around 17,000 more deaths than births.
