Spotlight
Conceptions in England and Wales: 2022
What's in the bulletin?
- There were 834,260 conceptions for women of all ages in England and Wales in 2022, which is the second consecutive annual increase; the conception rate remained unchanged from 2021, at 71.4 conceptions per 1,000 women.
- Women aged 30 to 34 years had the highest number of conceptions and conception rate for the sixth year in a row and the lowest percentage of conceptions leading to abortion.
- The conception rate fell among women aged 30 years and over and rose among women aged younger than 30 years, compared with the previous year.
Fertility for those born in different years, England and Wales: 2024
What's in the bulletin?
- Women born in 1979 (the most recent cohort for which we have completed family size) had an average completed family size of 1.95 in 2024; men born in 1979 have a lower average family size of 1.82 at this point in their life (by 45 years of age).
- Completed family size in England and Wales is projected to decline; women born in 2008 (considered to be the daughters of those born in 1979) are projected to have smaller families than their mothers, with an average completed family size of 1.48 children, while a baby girl born in 2026 is projected to have an average completed family size of 1.43.
- The proportion of women born in 1979 who have not had children is 15.7%, which is similar to their mothers' (14.8%) and grandmothers' (16.8%) cohorts.
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
-
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.
-
Conceptions in England and Wales
Annual statistics on conceptions to residents of England and Wales, with numbers and rates by age group including women aged under 18 years, inside and outside marriage or civil partnership, and area of usual residence.
-
Fertility for those born in different years, England and Wales
Annual analysis of fertility by cohort for those born in England and Wales. Cohort fertility analysis allows the fertility experience of those sharing the same birth year (a “cohort”) to be traced through time and compared with other cohorts.
Publications related to Conception and fertility rates
Statistical bulletins
-
Fertility for those born in different years, England and Wales: 2024
The changing composition of families over time, comparing the fertility of those of the same age over time and the number of children they have had.
-
Births by parents’ country of birth, England and Wales: 2023
Annual statistics on live births including countries of birth for non-UK-born mothers and fathers.
-
Births in England and Wales: 2025
Annual live births, stillbirths, maternities, and fertility rates in England and Wales by factors including parent age, parent country of birth, ethnicity, deprivation, gestational age and birthweight.
-
Birth characteristics in England and Wales: 2022
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.
-
Conceptions in England and Wales: 2022
Annual statistics on conceptions to residents of England and Wales, with numbers and rates by age group including women aged under 18 years.
Articles
-
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
Find, compare and visualise statistics about places within the United Kingdom.