The UK’s birth rate plummeted to the lowest it’s been since the 1970s last year, leaving experts wondering if a “baby bust” is upon us.
The Total Fertility Rate (TFR) – the average number of children a woman would have in her lifetime based on current trends – is also at the lowest since records began in 1938, partly down to young women postponing motherhood and life’s mounting pressures.
Today’s twenty-somethings are holding off on having kids due to economic uncertainty, sky-high housing costs, and job insecurity.
Starting a family is simply too risky for many who can barely afford a roof over their heads. Experts warn that with today’s eye-watering prices, many potential parents are sidelining their dreams of starting a family.
New data from the Office for National Statistics reveals that there were 591,072 live births last year, marking the lowest figure since 1977.
The typical family size in England and Wales is no longer 2.4 children, but rather 1.4. In fact, last year saw the fertility rate drop from 1.49 to 1.44.
Every region in the country experienced a decline in fertility rates, with Wales and the North West of England witnessing the most significant drops.
Fertility also decreases with age, and while science offers options like IVF, it doesn’t always work. More women are discovering that, despite their plans, it’s not always possible to “catch up” and have children later.
Among all council areas in England and Wales, Cambridge recorded the lowest fertility rate last year, at 0.91, equating to fewer than one child per woman.
In places like Cambridge, the fertility crisis is even more pronounced. Known for its prestigious university, Cambridge is full of young people — but they’re students and researchers focussed on academia, not starting families.
The city’s high rents and property prices are enough to drive anyone away, especially young couples who might want to settle down. Many professionals who work in Cambridge are forced to move elsewhere to start a family, further lowering the local TFR.
Alice Reid, co-director of the Cambridge Group for the History of Population and Social Structure, told Express.co.uk: “Cambridge has a very large student population, including post-graduates, as well as young research staff associated with the university.
“Because these people are studying or on short-term research contracts they are very unlikely to have children, and this means women’s fertility rates in their teens and twenties are likely to be very low indeed.
“Accommodation in Cambridge (in terms of both house prices and rents) is considerably higher than average which means that couples are likely to move outside of Cambridge when they decide to have children, even if they continue to work in the city.”
Despite the shockingly low TFR, experts say it may not spell disaster just yet. Many women may eventually decide to have children later in life, boosting their fertility rates down the line.
Still, experts agree that real solutions could ease the burden on today’s young people. Making housing more affordable and reducing job insecurity are seen as key steps to help young families thrive.
