Over 50 and Feeling the Frustration

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The fertility rate in England and Wales has dropped to its lowest recorded level since the 1930s, according to new data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). In 2023, the total fertility rate – representing the average number of children a woman has in her lifetime – fell to just 1.44 children per woman. This rate, the lowest since records began in 1938, reflects a significant downward trend that has continued for over a decade.

BREAKING: The fertility rate in England and Wales has fallen to the lowest level since records began, according to government data.

Sky's @ashnahurynag has the latest.

Read more: https://t.co/CIrFWUfHbt

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This trend also aligns with a decrease in live births, with only 591,072 births recorded in 2023, marking the lowest number since 1977. For a population to naturally replace itself, women need to have an average of 2.08 children, as the ONS explains. However, the current figures fall well below this threshold, continuing a pattern seen since the 1970s, when the fertility rate in England and Wales first dropped below two children per woman. 

 

The situation mirrors global trends, with fertility rates decreasing steadily worldwide. For instance, in 2022, the global fertility rate was 2.3 children per woman, while in the European Union, it was around 1.5 children per woman. Despite these low fertility rates, England and Wales currently have nearly 11.9 million women of childbearing age (15-44 years) – the highest number ever recorded.

 

ONS statistician Greg Ceely highlighted that this decline has been most pronounced among women in their 20s, particularly those aged 20-24 and 25-29. “Total fertility rates declined in 2023, a trend we have seen since 2010,” Ceely said, underscoring the impact on younger generations.

 

Experts like Professor Geeta Nargund, an NHS consultant and medical director at abc IVF, warn that these low birth rates could have significant economic repercussions. “We have a rapidly ageing population, and these figures should be a wake-up call for our government to address the current barriers to parenthood,” she stated.

 

Professor Nargund believes that policies supporting gender equality in the workplace and at home could help address this issue, encouraging prospective parents to feel secure in starting families. She advocates for a government-wide approach that includes making fertility treatments more accessible. “We need a long term and whole government approach to increase the birth rate: this should include ending the current NHS postcode lottery for IVF treatment, reducing waiting lists for fertility diagnosis and treatment on the NHS, and investing in family-friendly policies,” she urged.

 

Recent studies, such as one by the UCL Centre for Longitudinal Studies, have provided insights into millennial attitudes towards parenthood. The research found that while over half of millennials in England who do not yet have children desire to become parents, only a quarter are actively trying to conceive. These findings reveal that, for many, barriers to parenthood remain significant. 

 

The record-low fertility rate signals not only a shift in the country's demographics but also a call for policy reform to support prospective parents, ensuring that the future workforce and economy can sustain a rapidly aging population.

 

Based on a report from the Independent 2024-10-30

 

 

 

[gargamon]

Blame brexit. Or Boris.

[john donson]

don't you worry, more immigrants on the way... free everything plus money on top, too busy to work...

[MalcolmB]

9 hours ago, gargamon said:

Blame brexit. Or Boris.

I blame the women and feminists.

 

Somehow they have been convinced that having a fat arse is a good thing. 
And they are too entitled, embrace all the feminist stuff, but only when it suits them.

But see how much “equality” comes into play when they want a divorce. They want everything.

 

They slut around in pubs and clubs for years and then when hit mid 30s decide they want to have children with a nice man.

 

Luckily the petite Thai women have not been brainwashed by this feminist nonsense.

 

As far as UK women go, I would happy if I never see or talk to another one for the rest of my life, let alone breed with any of them.

[JonnyF]

I'm sure the immigrants on benefits will continue to multiply. They have the time and the money to do so. More kids, more benefits. 

 

The indigenous working people are too busy and too poor having been taxed to death paying for the immigrants. 

[Presnock]

10 hours ago, gargamon said:

Blame brexit. Or Boris.

it is basically a worldwide problem today, in Japan, not enough have been born to replace retiring workers so the government increased the incentives for retirees to return to their prior jobs.  S. korea hurting too as their birthrate is even lower than that of the EU.  If the US didn't have all those refugees, legal and illegals pouring into the country they would be worrying too.   As the working population ages, in order for social security funding needs a large number of youngsters paying for those oldsters, especially if the governments have raided those social security funds.  

[Chomper Higgot]

10 hours ago, gargamon said:

Blame brexit. Or Boris.

To be fair to Boris, he’s doing more than his fair share, to the point where he can’t remember how many children he has.

[Kinnock]

Unfortunately smart people are having few or no kids while the uneducated breed like rabbits - causing reverse evolution through survival of the dumbest.

[Chomper Higgot]

Just now, Kinnock said:

Unfortunately smart people are having few or no kids while the uneducated breed like rabbits - causing reverse evolution through survival of the dumbest.

Like I said, be fair to Boris, give him a break will you.

[Kinnock]

2 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Like I said, be fair to Boris, give him a break will you.

Well yes, he should certainly be on the 'not allowed to breed (yet again)' list.

 

There should be an IQ test before anyone is allowed to have kids.

 

And the planet is not running short of humans, so set the bar high.

[JonnyF]

9 minutes ago, Kinnock said:

Unfortunately smart people are having few or no kids while the uneducated breed like rabbits - causing reverse evolution through survival of the dumbest.

 

True.

 

Even more unfortunate when they are the Deputy leader of the UK.  

 

[mfd101]

As usual the anti-migration people make their little racist jokes and allusions ...

 

But the fact is that the future of ALL the 'Western' nations (plus Japan - though they haven't yet woken up to it) is immigration from the high-reproduction countries of Africa & the Middle East. And all the racist jokes and government 'tightening' won't alter that fact. Nothing else is going to maintain economic standards and even growth for the 'white' people over the rest of this century.

 

Pale skins are out of fashion and likely to remain so for ever.

[Red Forever]

When I read the headline to this post I wrote down the monikers of AN members who were likely to post far right racist comments. 

My bingo card is complete.

Here's the thing guys: When a serious article appears just take some deep breaths and instead of rushing to your pathetic far right manuals look at the post objectively.

Objectively? Look it up!