What is the average number of children in a family?

[PiccadillyCircus]

I know it was 2.4 but I thought it had changed to 1.7?
And how is it worked out - what happens when there are remarriages etc?

Well, I have found some more information here

I have now learned it is per woman as well.

The UK birthrate is about 1.7, I think that's worked out 1.7 children is born (on average!) in the lifetime of each woman.

The birthrate is something like 1.1 or 1.3 in Japan, Italy & Spain ...

Back in UK, since some women never have children at all, presumably the average "family" includes at least 2 children on average. Average household size was around 2.2-2.4 persons in last census, but a lot of people live alone, so average "family" (meaning household with dependent children) is probably 4-5 people, including 2 adults. hth.