Birth rate hits record low - 1.49 children per woman

[MidnightPatrol]

The ONS has released its latest data on the UK birthrate.

The number of children per women has dropped from 1.55 in 2022 to 1.49 in 2022 - the lowest on record.

This is the lowest number of births in the UK since 2002 - when the population was 10 million people smaller.

Do we think this problem will inevitably worsen? Are there particular reasons people are having less children (unique to the UK vs the rest of the world?).

Should we be taking steps to increase it / stop it reducing further?

It’s not unique to the UK. It’s a massive and fascinating subject.
Doing something about it? I am torn as I don’t want to encourage population growth.
If I could do one thing it would be to improve childcare. Make it more affordable (subsidise it) and remove the cut offs that make it impossible for middle and high earning women to continue with their careers. We want them to be able to have children.
1.5 sounds high really when I think of the number of people I know with no children.

Well I only have one and it was because we couldn't afford two lots of nursery fees at once. And then didn't want to start again when she was older.

Ultimately if this trend continues the government will either have to address it, or increase immigration, or we won't be able to support an ageing population. - subsidised nursery places, better parental leave/ pay, wrapround provision for schools, holiday clubs etc.

Lack of adequate housing/housing mobility is probably a big issue. My DD has one child and would like another but they need more space especially as one of them works from home now.

They are struggling to get a sale on their current home and the cost of an upwards move is significant. If it doesn't all fall into place in the next few years they might just stick with the one child they have.

Is it a problem, though?

Short to medium term it is in terms of societal impact, but long term do humans need to be here?

It’s a problem for anyone alive & the demographic switch is already upon us.

More over 65s than under 15s & look at the state of public services & what we are paying in taxes now.

It’s why despite Brexit no government will do anything about immigration. We need it!

I certainly think there's a 'quality of life' argument among a lot of my friends, which is making them stick to very small (or no) families.

The 'we made it work' argument of older generations isn't really interesting to them.

Working full time and having lots of kids crammed into a space thats too small, limited spare money for living... just not that appealing really is it?

May as well have one and be able to afford a high quality of living for everyone (and not just their childhood - but being able to help with education costs, house deposits etc).

I think in a time where rent and mortgage payments are high, house prices are high, cost of living is high and because of that its now considered necessary and the norm for both parents to work and then required childcare costs being high too, im not suprised people arent having more children.

I stopped at two and i know alot of people who stopped at one, which i think is alot more common now and i see why!

I can't say I'm surprised - Covid and a cost of living crisis. Not sure I'd want to bring a child into this world.

I also imagine because of the 2 child limit on UC, some parents would have considered what would happen if they lost their job, etc.

It would be surprising if there hadn’t been a fall in the birth rate given the increases in the cost of living and in particular housing and childcare.

Additionally i come from a very large family, and i dont think any of my siblings enjoyed it really. There wasnt enough money, time or space for us and that alone not taking finances into it, meant i did not want a large family myself

Long-term it is is better for the environment if the human population decreases.

Families with fewer children can also meet their needs more easily.

Do you know why your parents had such a large family?

I have lots of friends from families with 3+ children (DH and I included), and the idea of it to all of us is quite frankly crazy in 2024.

I don't know anyone with three children - every household includes 2x full time working parents however, which was probably not the case when we were children.

Even if I didn't have to work full time, managing the logistics (and needs) of 4 children seems wild.

@Hummusandstuff

It really is fascinating! I live in a rural town in Japan (population of about 40,000) where more people are aged over 100 than are under 1 years old. I'm currently pregnant and the hospitals in this town have stopped maternity services, so I have to travel for an hour by car just for a check-up - including an emergency check-up last week!

There's so many empty houses falling derelict etc. I know people keep on saying about too large a population, but seeing the daily effects of a sudden population decrease has me swayed the other way

Long-term it is is better for the environment if the human population decreases.

Theres nuance though, a smaller but largely older population in the UK will have more impact on the environment then a larger younger population in a poorer country.

@rubyredknowsitall I think it’s terrifying, I was in a&e the other day & there was a stream of poor old people in beds (having come in via an ambulance) waiting in the corridors.

I listening to a podcast that included this subject. It was an African woman on Triggernometry who was incredibly interesting. I might come back and edit this post with her name. She was saying that Africa is the fastest growing population globally and as a result is going to be one of the most interesting economies. So whilst UK indigenous populations are down, globally there are still countries with high population growth and naturally those people will migrate for economic reasons.

Great. Humans have overbred to the point we are leeching the planets resources many times beyond what it can provide, and have destroyed the climate. The UK soil only has enough nutrients left for less than 60 hrs of crops. There will be water shortages and climate refugees in upcoming decades.
Less humans being bred in to that hellscape is a good thing, producing people simply to work as careers for the elderly is an unsustainable ponzi scheme.

I think it's good tbh. We could probs half the number of humans on this planet and still have plenty.

People always say we need more people to care for those that are already here and living longer than ever. I understand their point but surely that just keeps creating a vicious circle - it's like borrowing more to pay off debt.

There is no such thing as a "UK indigenous population", we've always had waves of migration

Having children was encouraged by the church to ensure a continuous source of wealth for the institution. Subsequently, government also pushed the narrative to ensure a continuous source of tax revenue.

But people can now see it for what it is and have no desire to sacrifice their time, money, freedom and opportunities just to create another "good little tax payer".

Why break yourself financially, physically and emotionally, just to raise a child who will be slamming doors in your face at 14, screaming about how much they hate you and how you have ruined their life?

Most adults have very little contact or respect for their parents, truthfully, most are only interested in their inheritance, and wouldn't feel too bad at the funeral.

The birth rate will continue to decline as long as having a child remains so expensive.

@EvangelicalAboutButteredToast I think the interesting part of that is the switch in power that the immigrants will have. The UK will be competing with much of the west for said migrants & if their own younger countries become more powerful economically then many may want to stay put.

I thought there aren't a huge number of countries above replacement level, even in the developing world? Personally I think a gradual decrease is a good thing for managing global resources although it does worry me how impacts are going to be controlled.

Having children massively disproportionately affects women and, now we all know, we can't unknow it.

Blimey that is a bit harsh.