Brighton and Hove has the third lowest fertility rate in England and Wales, according to new data. Figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that in 2023 the city had the third lowest rate (0.98) behind Cambridge (0.
91) and the City of London (0.55). The fertility rate is defined as the average number of live children a group of women would have if they experienced the age-specific fertility rates throughout their childbearing life.
Luton (2.0), Barking and Dagenham (2.00) and Slough (1.
93) had the top three highest fertility rates. The total fertility rate across England and Wales dropped to a record low last year, while the number of live births fell to the lowest in nearly five decades. While fertility rates in England and Wales have been in overall decline since 2010, the rate in 2023 fell to 1.
44 children per woman, which the ONS said is the lowest since records began in 1938. The rate was down from an average of 1.49 children per woman over their lifetime in 2022 and has decreased most among women aged 20 to 24.
Some experts have suggested influencing factors could include economic uncertainty with the cost-of-living crisis, difficulties finding a partner and more people deciding not to have children..