The fertility rate in England and Wales fell to its lowest level on record in 2024. It is the third consecutive year that record has been broken.

Other than a slight jump during the pandemic, birth rates have been falling consistently since 2010. On average, women now have 1.41 babies, compared with 1.42 in 2023 and 1.94 in 2010.

Rates in Scotland are even lower still, according to data released on Tuesday by National Records Scotland. Women there have an average of just 1.25 babies, falling from 1.77 in 2008.

To sustain the size of the global population, demographic experts say women need to have an average of 2.1 babies . This is what they call the "replacement rate".

A similar rate is required to maintain the population of England and Wales, but it has been below that for more tha

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