The fertility rate in England and Wales has reached a new low, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). In 2025, there were 585,396 live births recorded, marking the lowest number since 1977.

The provisional total fertility rate—an estimate of the average number of children a woman is expected to have over her lifetime—stood at 1.39 in 2025. This shows a slight decline from the 1.41 rate observed in 2024. Experts note that for a population to maintain its size over time without accounting for migration, the fertility rate typically needs to be around 2.1 children per woman.

This continued decrease in fertility rates reflects ongoing demographic shifts in the region, raising potential concerns about future population growth and its implications for social and economic planning. The data highlights a persistent downward trend in birth rates over recent decades in England and Wales.