As UK births reach a 20-year low, Indian-born parents account for a record share

After a third of all residency visas were issued to Indian citizens, India surpassed Romania as the most popular destination of birth for foreign new moms

A record percentage of kids born in England and Wales last year were to parents who were both born outside of the country, marking a long-term shift in the country’s demographics. The number of newborns born in England and Wales also plummeted to its lowest level in two decades.

According to census data issued Thursday by the Office for National Statistics, 23.1% of all live births were to parents who were not born in the UK. This percentage has increased significantly from 16.7% in 2008 and from 21.5% a year ago.

The data also revealed a decline in the proportion of children born to British parents, from 62% to 60.3%, and a drop in overall births to 605,479 newborns. It indicates decreased population growth, which in the next decades could have a negative impact on the economy and labor market. This figure is the lowest since 2002.

Given the UK’s own declining birth rate, the rise in non-UK-born women is “a good thing,” according to Jonathan Portes, professor of economics and public policy at King’s College London. But the “real story here,” according to him, is that overall birth rates are decreasing, calling it a “serious long-term social problem for us.”

As the UK’s population ages and retirees outnumber new workers entering the workforce, there are concerns that there may be a shortage of labor. However, the number of children born to foreign parents is rising, which may allay these concerns. However, polling indicates that among British voters, immigration continues to be a major concern.

According to a recent survey by Kantar and the Migration Observatory, more than half of the general population favors reducing immigration. That means that as both main political parties prepare for a general election next year, the growing number of births to immigrant families could prove to be a contentious subject.

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A researcher at the Migration Observatory named Nuni Jorgensen made the observation that while immigrant parents were having more children than families with UK-born members, it still wasn’t enough to offset the number of older individuals leaving the workforce.

According to Jorgensen, there are currently 2.1 children per woman, or so-called “replacement-level fertility,” needed to replace the elder generation. “We can see that fertility rates are below replacement level for both UK-born and non-UK-born women.”

Last year, 139,953 children were born to parents who were both from outside the country, which is a rise from 134,308 the year before and the largest number since 2017. Births with one non-UK-born parent have stayed fairly stable, but births with two UK-born parents have decreased to 365,111, the lowest number since comparable data began in 2008.

According to ONS data, fertility rates are declining. Due to the ongoing cost-of-living issue in the UK, more women are delaying motherhood for financial or professional reasons.

The increase of migrant parents in 2022 is most likely the result of an increase in immigration to the UK in recent years. Last year, a record 606,000 more people came to the UK than left thanks to humanitarian initiatives and a need for workers with in-demand skills.

After a third of all residency visas were issued to Indian citizens, India surpassed Romania as the most popular destination of birth for foreign new moms. Following the official launch of the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme by the UK at the beginning of 2022, Afghanistan also made its debut in the top 10.

In addition, India has displaced Pakistan as the nation of origin for new fathers who were not born in the UK. Since similar data collection started in 2008, Pakistan had occupied the top place.

More than two thirds of births in London were to parents with at least one immigrant. With more than 80% of births, Brent, Westminster, Newham, and Harrow had the greatest percentages.

The towns of Slough in Berkshire and Luton in Bedfordshire had the greatest percentages of births to at least one immigrant parent outside of London, with 75% and 74.6%, respectively.

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The biggest percentages were seen farther from the capital in Oxford and Leicester, at 65.9% and 65%, respectively.