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Family life in the UK is evolving, with one of the most noticeable shifts being the rising age of first-time mothers. Recent Office for National Statistics (ONS) data highlighted this trend with the average age of first-time mothers reported to have increased steadily since 1970, prompting further discussions surrounding the factors responsible for driving these changes. Are economic pressures delaying parenthood? How do societal expectations and career ambitions influence when people choose to start a family?
To better understand these shifts, we have examined 15 years of birth and fertility patterns utilising census data, alongside survey insights from 268 individuals on personal experiences and attitudes toward family planning, to explore not just what the statistics tell us, but also the real-world influences shaping modern family decisions.
By combining large-scale data with individual perspectives, we have collated insights that allow us to paint a fuller picture of how family planning in the UK is changing – and what it could mean for the future.
Key findings
- The overall fertility rate for the UK has fallen by over a quarter (26.9%) across the last 15 years
- Births per year in the UK have fallen by 117,776 during the same timeframe – a 16.6% decrease
- The most dramatic decline in birth rates has been seen over the last 5 years, with 49,274 recorded – a 7.7% decrease
- Financial stability is the most significant factor influencing when to start a family, with 40% of people citing this as an important element to consider
- Housing security influences 7% of people, showing it’s a notable concern but less so than financial stability or health factors
- A significant portion of 1 in 4 (23%) think starting a family is somewhat or very unaffordable, indicating that financial concerns are still a barrier for many
- 60% cite financial instability as the main reason for the average age of first-time mothers increasing, while 47% believe women now prioritise careers, and 44% attribute delays to difficulty finding a suitable partner
- 67% of people predict that within the next 10-20 years, family sizes will become smaller
The areas of the UK where birth rates are declining the fastest
The ‘fertility rate’ is the average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime, based on current age-specific birth rates.
Richmond upon Thames has recorded the most dramatic drop, with births falling by 41.5%, the steepest decline in the country in the past 15 years. Ranking closely behind is Kensington and Chelsea, where birth rates have dropped by 39.5%, followed by the Isle of Anglesey, which has seen a 37.6% reduction.
Other areas experiencing substantial declines include Camden (35.4%) and Dorset (35.4%), highlighting a trend that is particularly pronounced in parts of London and coastal or rural regions.
Rounding out the top ten areas with the sharpest declines, Gosport has seen birth rates fall by 35.2%, while Southwark follows with a 34.8% decline. Westminster has also recorded a significant drop of 33.8%, with St Albans seeing a 33.4% decrease. Finally, Lambeth has experienced a 32.3% reduction, highlighting the broader trend of falling birth rates across both inner-city boroughs and suburban areas.
The areas of the UK where fertility rates are declining the fastest
The UK has also experienced a notable decrease in fertility rates over the past 15 years, with certain regions facing especially significant declines. In fact, the overall fertility rate for the UK has fallen by 26.9% over the last 15 years, which means that for every two women of childbearing age, one less child is being born.
Southwark stands out with a 44.2% drop in fertility rates, followed by Boston at 42.8%. Lambeth, Greenwich, and Newham also saw substantial decreases exceeding 40%. The downward trend extends to other areas like Lewisham, Lincoln, Arun, Haringey, and Dorset, indicating a widespread reduction in fertility across the nation.
Taking a closer look at the crossover between declining birth rates and fertility rates, a few areas stand out. Southwark, Lambeth, and Dorset appear on both lists, indicating that these areas are experiencing not only fewer births but also a broader shift in fertility patterns. The presence of multiple London boroughs in both rankings further highlights a concentrated decline in fertility and birth rates within the capital, pointing to shifts in urban living conditions that may influence family size and reproductive choices.
Where in the UK are birth rates increasing?
The ‘birth rate’ is the number of live births per 1,000 people in a population per year.
According to the data, just 15 out of 290 regions (5%) analysed have seen an increase in birth rates during the past 15 years.
Dartford has seen the biggest increase, with a 14.6% growth rate. Harborough follows closely behind with 14%, while Havering is also present in the top three with a 10.6% increase.
The data reveals that birth rates have increased in a limited number of both urban and rural areas throughout the UK, particularly in southern England. Areas close to London, including Dartford, Havering, and Brentwood, offer a mix of suburban living and easy access to city amenities, while rural areas, such as Tewkesbury, East Devon, and South Norfolk, provide affordable housing, green spaces, and a quieter lifestyle. Economic growth, job opportunities, and strong communities in these areas with a high quality of life and supportive environment for raising children also contribute to rising birth rates.
The considerations most influencing people when to start a family
Our research has revealed that financial stability is the most significant factor in deciding when to start a family, with 40% of people citing this as their primary consideration. When asked whether this was believed to be a factor in the average age of first-time mothers increasing, a huge 60% reported that they believed it was.
Health and age are also major factors, with 19% of respondents acknowledging their importance in the decision-making process. Meanwhile, the readiness of a partner plays a role for 16% of people, solidifying its presence in the top 3.
Housing security, which affects 7%, is a notable but less significant concern, while impact on career progression is a consideration for just 4%, indicating it is a lower priority for those planning to expand their family.
Surprisingly, access to childcare has the least influence, with fewer than 1% of people considering it a key factor in their decision to start a family. Despite this, 75% of people feel that affordable childcare would be the most effective government policy to encourage family expansion. The results show that while financial stability is the dominant factor for many, the influence of health and age shows that personal well-being also plays a significant role.
Why is the average age of first-time mothers in the UK increasing?
Following a similar pattern, financial instability has been identified within the study as the primary reason for people deciding to delay starting a family, with 60% of people citing it as a major factor. A stronger focus on career progression is also seen as a significant influence, with 47% believing that women prioritising their careers more plays a key role in this shift.
The difficulty in finding a suitable partner is another contributing factor for 44% of people, while 34% feel that housing costs and the lack of affordable homes are significant barriers. The rising cost of living is also a concern for 32%, making it harder for people to start families.
Other factors contributing to the delay include the emotional and mental readiness of a partner, with 30% of people indicating that waiting until their partner also feels prepared is a key consideration. Travel and personal experiences also saw a high result with over 1 in 4 (27%) believing that women are focusing more on this before settling down.
A further 20% believe that delaying marriage or long-term relationships also plays a role. Lastly, 14% of those surveyed think that improved access to fertility treatments is enabling people to conceive at older ages, further contributing to the trend of delaying family life.
Evolving perceptions of family planning and age-related fertility
The results of the survey have found that most people begin thinking about starting a family between the ages of 25 and 35, with 71% of people falling into this range.
When asked about the “ideal” age to start a family, 59% of respondents believe it’s best to do so in the same 25-35 age range. However, the highest percentage (36%) think about taking this step between the later end of this group, between 31-35 years old, indicating that while many consider starting a family during these years, some may not view it as the ideal time to act on it.
There is a notable difference between those who start thinking about having a family before 25 and those who think it’s ideal to do so at that age. While 14% begin considering family life before 25, only 3% think it is the ideal time. Similarly, while 13% think about starting a family after 36, only 7% believe this is the ideal age to have children, highlighting that although some delay their decision, fewer view it as the right time to start a family.
Despite this, many see benefits to starting a family later in life – including greater financial stability (77.6%), more life experience (75.3%), emotional maturity (74.6%), and having accomplished their career goals (49.6%).
How government policies and career support impact conception plans
The research also revealed the extent to which flexible working impacts employees’ family planning decisions, with 55.6% of respondents stating that flexible or home working options have made it easier for them to plan for a family. In contrast, 28.7% feel that their employer does not provide adequate flexible or home working options to support family life.
Enhanced maternity pay (beyond statutory levels) was deemed important to 93.2% of women planning to start a family, with 40.6% stating it was ‘extremely important’. Additionally, 85.4% and 87.6% of respondents believe that the current levels of statutory paternity and maternity pay, respectively, are inadequate.
When asked which areas the UK government should focus on to encourage them to either start or expand their families, affordable childcare was cited as the top policy by a huge 75.7% of respondents. This was followed closely behind by improvements in maternity/paternity leave (64.9%), and housing subsidies for families (19%).
Looking to the future: how could family planning change in the years to come?
We asked people how they thought family planning would evolve within the next 10-20 years. Over half of people (54.1%) believe families will begin to start later due to career and financial pressures, a trend we are already witnessing the beginnings of, while 67.5% predict family sizes will become smaller.
Prioritising finances before trying to conceive will continue to be a key factor for 35.8% of couples before starting families, and 40.7% expect more single parents to choose to have children without a partner. Additionally, people expect that advances in fertility technology will make conception easier for older individuals, with 29.9% of respondents agreeing with this.
Other changes include a shift toward alternative family structures, with 20.5% foreseeing adoption and surrogacy becoming more common and socially accepted. The rise of co-parenting arrangements among non-romantic partners was cited by 14.9%, however, a huge 47% of respondents believe more people will decide not to have children at all.
The findings throughout this study show that while financial stability remains the most influential factor in family planning decisions, personal well-being, including health and age, also plays an increasingly significant role. As perceptions of family planning and age-related fertility evolve, it is important to address these factors and create supportive environments that enable individuals to make informed decisions about their reproductive choices.
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Methodology
Survey responses based on answers from 268 respondents from Fertility Family’s database of subscribers. Birth and fertility rate data analysed utilising historic data from The Office for National Statistics (ONS) up until the most recently available data of 2023.
Data was collected in February 2025.
