Britain’s falling birth rate since the early 2010s

This briefing explores Britain’s recent baby bust and whether it should be a cause for concern for policy makers.  Most developed countries are grappling with a falling birth rate, and the UK is no different. There have always been a range of reasons that people postpone having children or choose not to have them at all – some reflecting preferences (such as prioritising education, careers or simply not wanting children), and some driven by constraints (from fertility difficulties to economic pressures). After a baby boom in the 2000s, the UK’s total fertility rate has fallen sharply since 2012 – reaching a joint-record low of 1.6 children per woman in 2023, with the latest 2024 figures suggesting it could fall further still.