'It's not a nice world to bring children into': Births fall to the lowest level in 50 years

Eleanor Lawrie, Social affairs reporter and Robert Cuffe, Head of statistics

"It's just not a very nice world to bring people into, and why would I consciously do that when I can choose not to?" remarks Stacey Waring, a 40-year-old nurse from Nottingham. Her perspective echoes a growing sentiment among many individuals considering the decision to start a family amidst global uncertainty.

Waring represents a rising demographic choosing to have fewer or no children, contributing to notable declines in birth rates both nationally and globally. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), live births in England and Wales reached 585,000 in 2025—a decrease of 10,000 from the previous year and the lowest figure recorded in nearly 50 years.

She reflects on the changing landscape of childhood, observing that raising children in today's UK appears less appealing than it did for previous generations. "If I think of the childhood that I had, I was one of the last generations to grow up playing outside without a mobile phone, and it's very different now," she adds. Despite these challenges, Waring feels fortunate to live in an era where individuals have the autonomy to choose if and when to start a family. She states, "If I'd had children, I'd have had to reduce my hours at work. I'm a huge traveller and go away whenever I can in my camper van, which I wouldn't be able to do if I had children."

The trend of declining birth rates in the UK has been ongoing since 2010. In 2025, the estimated number of births per woman fell to just under 1.4 for England and Wales, a decline from 1.9 in 2010. Additionally, the average age of women giving birth for the first time is now 29.6 years, nearly two years older than a decade ago. Furthermore, births to parents born outside the UK have also risen, now representing 40% of all births, up from 30% in the same period.

'It's heartbreaking'

Georgina Tuffour, a 35-year-old trainee nurse, expresses her desire for a larger family but feels constrained by the rising cost of living. Currently, she and her Uber driver husband are parents to three children aged 10, 8, and 6 and have concerns about the financial implications of adding to their family. "My daughter wants to register for everything at school, my son loves to play the drums, and that costs £50 a month," she shares. "I've had to say to them that I cannot afford to sign all of them up, and that breaks my heart; so imagine having another?"

Tuffour, who reached out to BBC Your Voice, acknowledges that while she has seen some governmental support for young families, she advocates for more comprehensive policies addressing childcare costs. Dr. Paula Sheppard, an anthropologist from the University of Oxford, attributes the delay in family expansion in part to financial factors, noting that many individuals are waiting until they secure better jobs, salaries, and living conditions before having more children. "People have always wanted the best for their kids, but the cost of having children is increasing - food costs more, clothes cost more – so absolutely the economy makes a difference," she explains.

Dr. Sheppard emphasizes that the decline in birth rates is part of a broader global trend rather than being confined to the UK or Europe. "Even in the Nordics, with their family-friendly social policies, they don't see an increase in birth rates," she observes. Instead, she links this trend to a "cultural shift" in which families opt to invest in fewer children, preferring to provide them with more resources. Additionally, she points out that falling birth rates may have a self-perpetuating psychological impact, asserting that "if you grow up in a society not seeing lots of babies, then it becomes harder for you to have babies [yourself]."