Statistics about births and conceptions: parental characteristics, home births and birthweight

Birth Trends in England and Surrey

The birth rates in England have seen notable fluctuations over the past few decades, influenced by a variety of social, economic, and cultural factors. Understanding these trends not only provides insight into population dynamics but also has implications for public policy, healthcare, and the economy. The COVID-19 pandemic added another layer of complexity to the birth trends in England. Initially, there were fears that the uncertainty of the pandemic would lead to a further decline in birth rates. However, data showed a temporary spike in births in 2021 as some couples who had delayed starting families during the early months of the pandemic chose to conceive. Overall, the full impact of the pandemic on long-term birth trends is still being analysed, but it has undeniably altered family dynamics and considerations surrounding childbirth. Surrey birth rates have mimicked the rest of England, only dipping during COVID-19, to bounce back again after the pandemic.

FIGURE 1

The Crude Birth Rate

The crude birth rate is the number of births per 1,000 people of all ages, not adjusted for age or sex. The crude birth rate for Surrey is significantly lower than England, although both have been declining. Crude rates area affected by the demographic make-up of a region. Surrey’s relatively older population means it has proportionally less women of childbearing age than England, which may explain its lower crude birth rate. Birth rates tend to be higher in areas of greater deprivation and since Surrey is relatively more affluent that the rest of England, the lower birth rates are expected.

FIGURE 2

The General Fertility Rate

The general fertility rate (GFR) is the number of live births per 1,000 female population aged 15 to 44, which adjusts for women of childbearing age in an area. Total fertility is another birth rate measure which uses general fertility rates to estimate the average number of children women would have in their lifetime. Surrey is slightly higher than England for both metrics. The general fertility rate (2022) at 52.9 per 1,000 females aged 15 to 44 years, and total fertility rate, at 1.57 children per woman are slightly higher than the England average of 51.9 and 1.49 respectively. A higher general fertility rate (GFR) means that, on average, more children are being born to women of reproductive age (typically defined as 15-49 years old) in Surrey.

FIGURE 3

Age of mother

Age is the single biggest factor affecting a woman's chance to conceive and have a healthy baby. According to Public Health England, Babies born to mothers under 20 years of age face higher risks of low birthweight, preterm delivery and severe neonatal conditions. In England there has been a fall in the number of conceptions for under-16s. Surrey has had a consistent number of conceptions amongst women of childbearing age and conceptions for under-16s falling at a similar rate as the rest of England.

FIGURE 4

Low birthweight

Low birth weight is defined as a recorded birth weight under 2.5kgs. Low birth weight among infants is strongly associated with infant mortality, as well as disability and disease throughout child and adulthood, which can have wider impacts such as reduced educational achievement. In recent times, across England there has been a steady decrease in the number of babies born underweight, however 2022 saw a sudden increase in numbers. In 2022, Surrey had a similar percentage of live term births with a low birth weight to the England average, 6.4% compared to 7%. This could be for several reasons, including the cost-of-living crisis that has affected the nation.

For the year 2022, the percentage of low birth weight babies across the region from 4.7% in Waverly and 7.5% in Spelthorne. It is unknown exactly why Spelthorne has such a high rate; it is likely the result of a combination of factors. Low birthweight is closely associated with deprivation, with babies born into the most deprived quintile are 2.2x more likely to be underweight than their counterparts born into the least deprived quintile in 2020-2022 by local IMD.

Premature births

Globally, premature birth (less than 37 weeks gestation) is the leading cause of death for children under the age of 5 and can lead to other serious health issues. There is substantial evidence that smoking during pregnancy and exposure to second hand-smoke can lead to premature birth. Premature births are often analysed alongside smoking data to monitor the impact of smoking related public health interventions. Surrey has a lower rate of babies born prematurely, in 2022, 7% of babies born in Surrey were premature compared to 7.9% in England.

Nationality of Mothers

In 2022, data on the nationality of mothers giving birth in the UK reflected the country's diverse population and immigration patterns. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), there were distinctions in birth rates among mothers based on their country of birth and nationality. Overall, the nationality of live birth mothers in the UK in 2022 underlines the ongoing demographic evolution of the country, reflecting broader trends in migration, social integration, and family planning practices. For precise and updated statistics, consulting reports from the ONS or health departments would provide detailed insights on the nationality demographics of mothers giving birth in the UK. The below table shows the distribution of Live births in Surrey, Southeast and England in 2022.

Concluding remarks

The birth rates in England has seen notable fluctuations over the past few decades, influenced by a variety of social, economic, and cultural factors. Understanding these trends not only provides insight into population dynamics but also has implications for public policy, healthcare, and the economy. Factors contributing to this decrease included greater access to education and employment for women, the availability of contraception, and changing attitudes towards family life and child-rearing. The average age of mothers at first childbirth increased, reflecting a trend for women to prioritize their education and careers before starting families.

In summary, the trend of births in England has been marked by significant fluctuations influenced by social, cultural, and economic factors. From the post-war baby boom to recent declines driven by economic uncertainty and lifestyle changes, these trends reflect deeper societal shifts and have wide-ranging implications for the future. Understanding these patterns will be crucial for policymakers as they prepare for challenges associated with an aging population and strive to support families and children in a changing world.

Latest data included:

Live births: England, South East, Surrey, Surrey LAs, Surrey Wards, Surrey LSOAs: 2017-2021

Live births by homebirth & marital status: England, South East, Surrey, Surrey LAs: 2017-2021

Birthweight: England, South East, Surrey, Surrey LAs: 2017-2022

Teenage pregnancy, births, and abortions (under-16s and under-18s): England, South East, Surrey, Surrey LAs: 2008-2019.

Pregnancy and abortion ratio (all women): England, South East, Surrey: 2009-2020

This page includes a variety of statistics around conceptions and births. Although these statistics come from different sources, they have been brought together on this page so that you can easily find what you want to know about conceptions and births in Surrey.

Data about stillbirths and infant mortality is available here.

This page will soon include a summary of these statistics.

Sources:

• ONS: Birth characteristics
• Nomisweb: Live births by small area
• ONS: Conceptions statistics (including teenage fertility statistics)