By Emeka Blast 
Birth Rates on the Rise in England and Wales After 2021 Dip
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported today that birth rates in England and Wales have risen for the first time since 2021, with 594,677 live births recorded in 2024, a 0.6% increase from 591,072 in 2023. This modest uptick, amounting to 3,605 additional births, halts a decade-long downward trend in live births, which had seen numbers drop to a 46-year low in 2023, the lowest since 1977. Despite the rise, 2024’s total remains the third lowest since 2002, reflecting historically low fertility levels.
The increase was driven primarily by a notable rise in births to older parents, with a striking 14.2% surge in live births to fathers aged over 60, according to the ONS. Births to mothers aged 35–39 also grew, continuing a 50-year trend of parents delaying childbirth. Conversely, births to younger parents declined, with a 4.6% drop for mothers under 20 and a 2.4% decrease for those aged 20–24, while fathers under 20 and 20–24 saw reductions of 0.5% and 3.2%, respectively. Greg Ceely, ONS head of population health monitoring, noted, “Despite this overall rise, the number of births to mothers under 30 fell, as people continue to put off having children until later in life.”
Regionally, the West Midlands led with a 3.4% increase in live births, followed by London at 1.8%. Five English regions, including the North East (-1.4%), saw declines, while Wales experienced a 2.0% drop, with 26,832 live births in 2024 compared to 27,374 in 2023. A significant factor in the rise was the increase in births to non-UK-born parents, which rose to 39.5% of live births in 2024, up from 37.3% in 2023. London had the highest proportion at 68.3%, with India remaining the most common country of birth for non-UK-born mothers and fathers for the third consecutive year.
The ONS did not publish updated total fertility rates (TFR) for 2024 due to unavailable population estimates, but 2023’s TFR of 1.44 children per woman was the lowest since records began in 1938. Posts on X suggested a likely decline in TFR for 2024 despite the rise in births, driven by a 7.3% increase in births to immigrant women, particularly South Asians, while births to UK-born women fell by 2.5%. The data reflects a growing proportion of births to non-UK-born parents, rising from 32.5% in 2014 to 39.5% in 2024.
The slight increase follows a brief uptick in 2021, when live births rose 1.8% to 624,828, attributed to a post-coronavirus pandemic effect. However, the long-term trend since 2012 has been downward, with 2023’s 591,072 births marking a 14,407 decrease from 2022. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson expressed concern over declining fertility rates, urging policies to support young families amid financial and housing pressures. A University College London study cited by the BBC noted that only one in four 32-year-olds in England actively trying for children, with cost-of-living pressures and childcare costs as key barriers.
The most popular birth date in 2024 was February 23, while Boxing Day (December 26) remained the least common for the 12th consecutive year. As the UK navigates demographic shifts, with population growth largely sustained by immigration, the 2024 rise offers a glimmer of optimism, though experts caution that economic and social challenges continue to shape fertility decisions.
