England and Wales birth rates hit lowest half-year level since 1977

The number of live births in England and Wales during the first six months of 2026 fell to 287,236, marking the lowest half-year total since 1977. According to data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), this represents a decrease of 2,406 births compared to the same period in 2025.

The decline follows a trend of falling annual births, with 2025 recording 585,395 births, the lowest annual figure since 1977. The fertility rate in England and Wales reached a record low of 1.39 in 2025, significantly below the 2.1 average required to maintain a stable population.

Economic and societal factors, including the cost of living and changing norms, have been cited as drivers for the declining birth rate. The Resolution Foundation has noted that population growth in the region is increasingly expected to be driven by international net migration.