- New analysis by the Resolution Foundation indicates that falling birth rates in the UK are largely due to financial struggles rather than a reduced desire for parenthood.
- The recent decline in births is primarily driven by a significant increase in childlessness among young non-graduate women, who are now mirroring the trend of delaying motherhood previously seen in graduate women.
- Official data shows the total fertility rate for England and Wales fell to a record low of 1.41 in 2024, marking the third consecutive year of decline.
- Financial constraints are influencing family planning intentions, with childless 32-year-olds in the lowest income bracket twice as likely to intend to remain permanently childless compared to their higher-income counterparts.
- The think tank suggests that policymakers should address financial barriers, such as improving housing affordability and access to the property ladder, to make starting a family more achievable for young people.
IN FULL
Cost of living crisis ‘holding young people back from having children’ as UK birth rate falls
