The financial squeeze on young couples has seen the number of births drop to a near 90-year low amid warnings over the impact on the UK economy.
Young adults struggling to pay for essentials such as energy bills, rents and mortgages have been unable to afford to think about starting a family, according to new figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
It said the total fertility rate dropped to 1.44 children per woman in 2023, which is the lowest value since records began in 1938.
This is well below the 2.1 children per woman that is considered necessary to maintain a stable population in developed countries without migration – and could have consequences for Britain’s economy and, therefore, your money.
The ONS noted there were various factors behind the long-term fall in births, including the introduction of the contraceptive pill in the 1960s, the rise of women in employment and education, and – more recently – the cost of childcare and housing.
The official figures show that the most common age to have a baby is 30-34. And, since 2015, women have been more likely to…
