People in the UK: if you want children, is there anything that is holding you back?

Campaigners have warned that “procreation has become a luxury item”, after it emerged that the fertility rate in England and Wales had fallen to its lowest level since records began. Photograph: Andrew Matthews/PA

The fertility rate in England and Wales has fallen to its lowest level since records began in 1939.

Official figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed “total fertility”, calculated based on the birthrate across different age groups, fell to 1.49 children per woman in 2022, well below the rate of 2.1 needed to maintain a steady population without significant immigration.

We’re interested to hear from people in the UK who would like to have children but have felt unable or unmotivated to start a family. What are the reasons that may have held you back from having children so far, and do you have concerns about having children in future?

We’re keen to hear both from single people and people in a relationship.

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