Fertility in Britain

Professor Hill Kulu and Professor Ann Berrington have been investigating differences in childbearing behaviour between women living in Scotland and those in England and Wales. Whilst all countries in Britain have experienced a decline in fertility rates, Scotland’s fertility has declined more than the other countries.

The research found that all three countries have seen a large postponement of childbearing to later ages. There are no differences between the countries in the rate of childbearing at younger ages, the difference appears to be due to lower rates of childbearing among women in their thirties and forties. The study also found that Scottish women with two children were less likely to intend to have another child than women living in England, even when socio-economic factors were taken into account.

The research suggests Scottish women are less able to achieve their intended fertility, particularly second and third births. It provides support for the approach taken by the Scottish Government in seeking to reduce barriers to childbearing and the gap between desired and actual family size. The research team held a workshop in collaboration with the Scottish Government Population Team to discuss these findings.

Further reading

Understanding fertility trends in Britain: Do fertility intentions differ across England, Wales and Scotland? (CPC-CG working paper 105)