How many babies are born, and how many people die?
585,396 babies were born in England and Wales in 2025, and 570,988 deaths were registered in 2025. The most in any year we show was 881,026 (1947), and births in 2025 were down 16% on 2015.
Babies born alive in 2025. down 16% on 2015.
In 2025. up 8% on 2015.
Average age at birth, in years, 2025. It was 30.3 in 2015.
Births and deaths over time
What’s this?
The number of babies born alive in England and Wales each year.
What it cannot tell you: It counts births registered, not the number of children each woman has. The fertility rate does that, and it has fallen further than the number of births.
What’s this?
The number of deaths registered in England and Wales each year.
What it cannot tell you: It counts deaths registered in the year, not deaths that happened in it, and it rises with an ageing and growing population even if people live longer.
What’s this?
Deaths per 100,000 people once the ageing of the population is allowed for, so years can be compared fairly.
What it cannot tell you: It uses the 2013 European Standard Population, which is a convention for comparing years, not a real population.
What’s this?
The age mothers are, on average, when their babies are born (standardised for the mix of first and later births).
What it cannot tell you: It is an average, and it hides the large spread of ages.
Year by year
England and Wales, by year of registration.
| Period | Live births, England and Wales | Deaths registered, England and Wales | Average age of mothers at birth |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 585,396 | 570,988 | 31.1 |
| 2024 | 594,677 | 568,613 | 31.0 |
| 2023 | 591,072 | 581,363 | 30.9 |
| 2022 | 605,479 | 577,160 | 30.9 |
| 2021 | 624,828 | 586,334 | 30.9 |
| 2020 | 613,936 | 607,922 | 30.7 |
| 2019 | 640,370 | 530,841 | 30.7 |
| 2018 | 657,076 | 541,589 | 30.6 |
| 2017 | 679,106 | 533,253 | 30.5 |
| 2016 | 696,271 | 525,048 | 30.4 |
| 2015 | 697,852 | 529,655 | 30.3 |
| 2014 | 695,233 | 501,424 | 30.2 |
Questions people ask
How many babies are born each year?
585,396 in 2025 in England and Wales (ONS). The most in any year we show was 881,026 in 1947, and the fewest 569,259 in 1977.
Are more people dying because the population is older?
The number of deaths depends on how many people there are and how old they are. The age-standardised rate takes the age of the population out: it was 913 deaths per 100,000 in 2025, against 1,392 in 1995.
Why do these figures say 'registered'?
Births and deaths are counted when they are registered, which can be days or weeks after they happen. A small number of deaths are registered in the following year.
What does “live births, england and wales” measure?
The number of babies born alive in England and Wales each year. It was 585,396 (babies born alive in the year) in 2025, down 5% on 2020. The highest we have is 881,026 (1947) and the lowest 569,259 (1977).
What does “deaths registered, england and wales” measure?
The number of deaths registered in England and Wales each year. It was 570,988 (deaths registered in the year) in 2025, down 6% on 2020. The highest we have is 611,861 (1918) and the lowest 444,785 (1923).
What does “age-standardised mortality rate” measure?
Deaths per 100,000 people once the ageing of the population is allowed for, so years can be compared fairly. It was 913 (deaths per 100,000 people) in 2025, down 14% on 2020. The highest we have is 1,392 (1995) and the lowest 913 (2025).
What does “average age of mothers at birth” measure?
The age mothers are, on average, when their babies are born (standardised for the mix of first and later births). It was 31.1 (years) in 2025, up 1% on 2020. The highest we have is 31.1 (2025) and the lowest 26.4 (1973).
Sources: ONS, births in England and Wales; ONS, deaths registered in England and Wales. Updated every night. Each chart has a CSV and a Share button.
See also: Population · Life expectancy · Migration