Fertility rate in England and Wales falls for a third year | The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentIndependentNext articleIndependent Bulletin homepageSocial PartnerWe are 8 logo (opens in a new tab)AllNewsSportCultureLifestyleAlicja HagopianThursday 28 August 2025 07:04 BSTFertility rate in England and Wales plummets to record lowThe 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.In fullFertility rate in England and Wales plummets to record low – this is how we compare with the rest of the worldThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in