Notice

08 November 2018

Following the birth user consultation in 2017, we have included Table 1 within our Birth characteristics publication and Table 2 is now available from NOMIS for the 2017 data year onwards.

  • This is an accredited National Statistic. Click for information about types of official statistics.
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  • Release date:
    20 November 2017
  • Next release:
    September to October 2018 (provisional)

About this Dataset

Live births in the UK by area of usual residence of mother. The tables contain summary data for local authorities and local health boards (within Wales) including figures by age of mother.

Edition in this dataset

2016 edition of this dataset

2015 edition of this dataset

Previous versions of this data are available.

2014 edition of this dataset

2013 edition of this dataset

2012 edition of this dataset

2011 edition of this dataset

2010 edition of this dataset

2009 edition of this dataset

2008 edition of this dataset

Important notes and usage information

Main points from our latest release:

  • In 2016 the total fertility rate (TFR) in the UK was 1.79 children per woman, a slight decrease from 2015 (1.80).

  • Northern Ireland had the highest TFR of all UK countries in 2016, with 1.95 children per woman, in England and Wales the TFRs were 1.81 and 1.74 respectively; Scotland had the lowest TFR with 1.52 children per woman.

  • The East of England and the West Midlands were the regions of England with the highest TFR in 2016 with 1.91 children per woman, while the North East and London had the lowest with 1.72 children per woman.

  • Among the local authorities in England in 2016, Barking and Dagenham had the highest TFR with 2.47 children per woman while City of London had the lowest with 0.75 children per woman.

  • Among the local authorities in Wales in 2016, Denbighshire had the highest TFR with 2.09 children per woman while Cardiff had the lowest with 1.59 children per woman.

  • In England in 2016, there were 5.6 births per 1,000 women aged under 18, in Wales the figure was 7.7.

  • London was the region of England with the lowest birth rate for women aged under 18 (3.8 births per 1,000 women) while the North East had the highest (10.2 births per 1,000 women) in 2016.

  • In England in 2016 there were 1.1 births per 1,000 women aged 45 and over, in Wales the figure was 0.7.

  • The North East was the region of England with the lowest birth rate for women aged 45 and over (0.5 births per 1,000 women) while London had the highest (2.7 births per 1,000 women) in 2016.

  • In 2016 the North East was the region of England with the highest percentage of live births outside marriage or civil partnership (59.8%), London had the lowest (36.5%).

  • Among the local authorities in England in 2016, Knowsley had the highest percentage of live births outside marriage or civil partnership (73.3%), Harrow had the lowest (19.4%).

  • Among the local authorities in Wales in 2016, Merthyr Tydfil had the highest percentage of live births outside marriage or civil partnership (70.8%) while Cardiff had the lowest (47.6%).