Particle.news
Download on the App Store
9 ARTICLES
·
last wk.

Live Births Tick Up in England and Wales for First Time Since 2021

Despite the rise, births are still at the third-lowest level since 1977 with younger parent cohorts continuing to shrink.

Street scene at Whitechapel Market on Whitechapel High Street on 12th June 2023 in London, United Kingdom. Whitechapel is an ethnically diverse and vibrant neighbourhood in the East End which is home to a significant population of Bangladeshi residents. This can be seen along the pavements where Whitechapel Market and the surrounding shops interact with this truly multicultural society. (photo by Mike Kemp/In Pictures via Getty Images)
Image
Image
Image

Overview

  • Live births increased by 0.6%, from 591,072 in 2023 to 594,677 in 2024, reversing the decline seen since 2021.
  • Births to fathers aged 60 and over surged by 14%, rising from 942 to 1,076 in the year to 2024.
  • Nearly 39.5% of babies had at least one foreign-born parent, up from 37.3% the previous year, marking a record high share.
  • Regional variation was pronounced, with the West Midlands up 3.4% and London up 1.8%, while Wales fell by 2.0% and the North East by 1.4%.
  • Births to mothers under 30 continued to fall, including a 4.6% drop for those under 20 and a 2.4% decline for ages 20 to 24.