Declining Birth Rates Amid Cost-of-Living Crisis
By Aimee Duffy
By Sarbasri Bhaumik via Unsplash
The UK birth rates have dropped to record lows amid the cost-of-living crisis. Fertility rates have hit an all-time low since records began in 1938, with deaths outnumbering births by 16,300 in the year to June 2023.
In 2024, the Office for National Statistics reported that the total fertility rate dropped to 1.41 children per woman in England and Wales. Scotland has faced a significant drop in births, with the rate being 1.25 children per woman.
A recent report by the charity Coram found the average price for a full-time childcare place for a child under three years old is £300 weekly.
The increase in costs for these services has impacted the number of children that families have due to the financial commitment.
Polling firm Ipsos found that 39% of 18- to 50-year-olds who decided against having children agreed that the cost of raising a child is the most common issue.
University College London’s Dr Alina Pelikh, said: “It is likely that current cost-of-living pressures, with rising housing and childcare expenses, are also shaping the environment in which this group is making fertility decisions.”
This highlights that financial pressures are continuing to cause hesitation in having children.
From 2030, deaths are expected to outnumber births with fertility levels falling even lower to 1.4 children per woman. This will cause a drop in pupils attending schools, with around 800 primary schools predicted to be closed by 2029.
Paul Whiteman, the general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, said: “This could build capacity for greater inclusion and enable schools to offer smaller classes and more targeted help.”
This suggests that there are positives to the falling number of pupils who will attend school, as it may improve other children’s education.
The falling birth rates in the UK reflect the constant financial pressures that families are facing every day.
These trends are likely to continue, causing the country to face challenges as the cost-of-living crisis leaves people feeling helpless.