Spotlight
Conceptions in England and Wales: 2018
What's in the bulletin?
- In 2018, there were an estimated 839,043 conceptions to women of all ages in England and Wales compared with 847,204 in 2017, a decrease of nearly 1.0%.
- The conception rate for women under 18 years decreased for the 11th year in a row, the longest continued decrease since records began.
- The percentage of conceptions leading to a legal abortion among all women resident in England and Wales increased from 22.7% in 2017 to 24.0% in 2018, the highest percentage since records began in 1990.
Childbearing for women born in different years, England and Wales: 2019
What's in the bulletin?
- Women in England and Wales born in 1974 who completed their childbearing in 2019, had on average 1.92 children, a slight increase on women born in 1973 (1.89 children).
- Nearly half (49%) of women born in 1989 (the most recent cohort to reach age 30 years) remained childless by their 30th birthday, compared with 38% for their mothers’ generation and just over one-fifth for their grandmothers’ generation (1961 and 1934 cohorts respectively).
- The most common age at childbirth for women born in 1974 was 31 years, an increase compared with 23 years for their mothers’ generation born in 1948.
Births in England and Wales
Live births, stillbirths and the intensity of childbearing, measured by the total fertility rate.
Datasets related to Conception and fertility rates
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Quarterly conceptions to women aged under 18 years, England and Wales
Quarterly statistics on conceptions to women aged under 18 years resident in England and Wales; numbers and rates are by regions and other local authority areas.
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Conception statistics, England and Wales
Annual statistics on conceptions to residents of England and Wales; numbers and rates by age group including women aged under 18 years, inside and outside marriage or civil partnership, and area of usual residence.
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Childbearing for women born in different years
Annual analysis of fertility by cohort for women in England and Wales. Cohort fertility analysis allows the fertility experience of a group of women sharing the same birth year (a "cohort") to be traced through time and compared with other cohorts.
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Conception statistics, England and Wales
Annual statistics on conceptions to residents of England and Wales; numbers and rates by age group including women aged under 18 years, inside and outside marriage or civil partnership, and area of usual residence.
Publications related to Conception and fertility rates
Statistical bulletins
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Conceptions in England and Wales: 2018
Annual statistics on conceptions to residents of England and Wales, with numbers and rates by age group including women aged under 18 years.
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Birth characteristics in England and Wales: 2019
Annual live births in England and Wales by sex, birthweight, gestational age, ethnicity and month, maternities by place of birth and with multiple births, and stillbirths by age of parents and calendar quarter.
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Childbearing for women born in different years, England and Wales: 2019
The changing composition of families over time, comparing the fertility of women of the same age and the number of children they have had.
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Births by parents’ country of birth, England and Wales: 2019
Annual statistics on live births including countries of birth for non-UK-born mothers and fathers.
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Births in England and Wales: 2019
Live births, stillbirths and the intensity of childbearing, measured by the total fertility rate.
Articles
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Childbearing by socio-economic status and country of birth of mother
This article explores the relationship between the socio-economic status of women and their fertility and, in particular, examines how this differs for UK born women compared with non-UK born women. How is a woman’s socio-economic status associated with her childbearing outcomes?
Methodology related to Conception and fertility rates
Looking for local statistics?
A handy guide to let you know where to find local statistics.