Excluding the Covid pandemic, ONS figures show 16,300 fewer births than deaths, not seen since 1970s ‘baby bust’

Deaths have outstripped births in the UK for the first time in nearly half a century, excluding the start of the pandemic, official figures showed on Tuesday.

Declining fertility and the demise of baby boomers means there are now more funerals than baby celebrations, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics.

There were an estimated 16,300 fewer births than deaths in the UK in the year to mid-2023, the first time this has happened since the 1970s “baby bust”, if excess deaths during Covid are stripped out.

But the figures continue to show a growing population, up 1% in the year to 68,265,209 people, due to net international migration of 677,300.

The dominance of deaths over births was described by economists as “a stark reminder of Britain’s demographic challenges”.

  • ForgotAboutDre@lemmy.worldEnglish
    24·
    1 month ago

    Yes, it’s a choice that’s been made not to. The same people peddling this narrative are the ones that push the ideology that lead to the reduction in the government capability to provide services like health care and housing.