Birth rate and fertility: England and Wales
There were 585,396 live births in England and Wales in 2025, down 1.6 percent from 594,677 in 2024, according to the Office for National Statistics. The ONS estimates provisionally that the total fertility rate fell from 1.41 children per woman in 2024 to 1.39 in 2025; final rates are due later in 2026. In 2024, England recorded 567,708 births and Wales 26,832.
Births and fertility, 2025 and 2024
| Measure | 2025 | 2024 | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live births (England and Wales) | 585,396 | 594,677 | Down 1.6% on 2024 |
| Total fertility rate (TFR) | 1.39 (provisional) | 1.41 | Provisional 2025 rate; final rates due later in 2026 (ONS) |
| Live births, England only | n/a | 567,708 | 2024 country split |
| Live births, Wales only | n/a | 26,832 | 2024 country split |
A total fertility rate of about 2.1 is the level needed for a population to replace itself without migration, so 1.39 is well below replacement.
Last updated 2026-10-05. Compiled by BabyData from the ONS Births in England and Wales 2025 release (27 May 2026) and the 2024 release. Scotland (National Records of Scotland) and Northern Ireland (NISRA) publish their own birth statistics. Refreshed each year when the ONS releases new figures.
Common questions
Is the UK birth rate falling?
The total fertility rate has been falling: 1.41 in 2024 and, provisionally, 1.39 in 2025. The number of births fell 1.6% in 2025 to 585,396.
What is the total fertility rate?
It is the average number of children a woman would have over her lifetime at current birth rates. About 2.1 is needed for a population to replace itself naturally, so 1.39 is well below that.
Does this cover the whole UK?
These figures are for England and Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland publish their own birth and fertility statistics through National Records of Scotland and NISRA.
Source: ONS Births in England and Wales 2025.