For the first time in nearly 70 years, the fertility rate amongst women over 40 is higher than that in women under 20.
The Office for National Statistics’ research showed an increase in the fertility rate of women over 40 by 300% since 1981.
Since last year alone, that rate has increased by 3.4% which the rate for women under 20 has seen a decrease in 7.1%.
Statistician Elizabeth McLaren said:
“The trend for women to have babies at older ages continued in 2015. Over the last 40 years, the percentage of live births to women aged 35 and over has increased considerably.
“Women aged 40 and over now have a higher fertility rate than women aged under 20. This was last recorded in the 1940s.”
Fertility rate for women aged 40+ in Eng&Wales rose above rate for women < 20 in 2015 https://t.co/Oeq5cs0OZG pic.twitter.com/UxdPdaulB8
— Elizabeth McLaren (@StatsLiz) July 13, 2016
Researchers believe this is a reflection of more women going on to further education and prioritising career aspirations earlier in life.
“In most developed countries, women have been increasingly delaying childbearing to later in life, which has resulted in rising fertility rates among older women.
“This may be due to a number of factors such as increased female participation in higher education and the labour force, the increasing importance of a career, the rising costs of childbearing, labour market uncertainty and housing factors.
“Rising fertility rates at older ages have affected the average age of mothers, which has been increasing since 1975, reaching 30.3 years in 2015.”
Research has shown that women between the ages of 30 and 34 years old have consistently had the highest fertility rate since 2004 when 25 to 29 year olds were topped the list.
