The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reveal that the total fertility rate in England and Wales has dropped to 1.41 children per woman in 2024, a historic low since records began in 1938, down from 1.42 in 2023. Scotland, too, has recorded its lowest rate in nearly 170 years at 1.25 children per woman.
Key drivers include rising economic pressures, high housing costs, childcare expenses, and job instability, together with delayed parenthood. The average age of mothers and fathers has risen to 31 and 33.9 years, respectively. Despite a modest uptick in live births, this did not counterbalance the overall population increase, resulting in the continued fertility decline.
For pro-life advocates, these figures signify a moral and societal imperative. SPUC emphasises that at a time when birth rates are falling well below the replacement threshold of 2.1, every lost potential life is a profound loss.
A nation without children is a nation without a future. With fertility rates at all-time lows, we are witnessing not just demographic decline but a decline in hope. Supporting families to welcome life should be a national priority.
The implications are vast. Falling birth rates strain economic structures, shift population age balances, and place greater reliance on immigration, a trend projected to continue in sustaining Britain’s population. Without the flourishing of new generations, the future of communities, traditions, and even the nation’s economic stability is at stake.
SPUC calls for real support: affordable housing, generous parental leave, accessible childcare, and robust community networks. These measures honour the sanctity of life and empower families to make enduring commitments to parenthood.
A culture that cherishes and supports families is one that treasures the precious gift of life. This crisis calls for compassion and public policy that nurtures families.
