Just came across this and thought it was wild… according to the ONS, by 2029 the number of deaths in the UK is expected to outnumber the number of births for the first time in decades.
- Our fertility rate is only about 1.5 kids per woman, well below replacement.
- Meanwhile, the population is ageing — all those baby boomers are moving into their 70s and 80s.
- The result? The natural population growth turns negative, meaning any population increase will rely entirely on immigration.
It’s crazy to think that in just 4 years, births won’t even keep up with deaths. Makes you wonder what that’ll mean for schools, NHS, pensions, and housing.