Research by the Centre for Progressive Policy (CPP) found that since 2010, the UK has had the fastest decline in fertility among G7 countries. That includes places like the US, Germany and Canada.

‘Fertility Rate’ is defined as the number of children a woman has - and in the UK, the fertility rate has dropped by 18.8% since 2010.

The CPP say the government’s policy of ‘austerity’ [where they drastically reduced spending on public services] is the primary cause for the downturn.

Less spending on social services and child benefits meant people were less likely to have kids.

And, it says that women in deprived areas were impacted the most.

Women under 30 are having fewer children - across the world.

In 1954, the average woman had 5 children, now in the 2020s, that number has halved.

The Pill, better healthcare and improved access to education has played a huge role in this. As well as lifestyle factors like prioritizing higher education, their careers and friendships.

Women are having fewer children, later.

But, delaying having children can make conception harder.

It’s harder for women to get pregnant after they turn 35, and women are half as fertile in their 30s as they are in their 20s.

One in six people have issues with fertility according to the World Health Organization.

Fertility isn’t just a women’s issue.

A third of fertility issues in the UK involve men, and a study in 2017 found that male sperm count had fallen by 50% in western countries

And, while it’s spoken about less, men in their 40s are about half as fertile as those under 25.