Scotland's birth rate falls to lowest level since 1855

Official estimates indicate that the number of babies born in Scotland dropped to a new low last year. According to National Records of Scotland (NRS) statistics, 45,763 live births were recorded on 2023, down 172 on 2022, the lowest level since records began in 1855. The country's total fertility rate also decreased from 1. 75 percent in 2001 to 1. 27 to 1. 25. According to the NRS, if there is no migration, a population would replace itself, so the total fertility rate needs to be around 2. 1.

According to the company, the overall figures represented "long-term population shifts. The stillbirth rate was also estimated at 3. 3%, according to the study. The joint lowest recorded score is 5 for every thousand people and still births. The infant mortality rate in the United States dropped to 3. 3% in 2013. There are 5 per thousand live births, down from a recent high of 4. 0 in 2023. Last year, there were 16,528 more deaths than babies. In 2014, Scotland had more births than deaths, and the gap has widened since then.

The statistics also show that motherhood is shifting around Scotland. The majority of births in the 1960s were to women in their 20s. However, the majority of babies in the 30 to 34 age group have been born to mothers since 2010. Last year more than a third (35. In this group, 7% of births were to women. Meanwhile, more than half of babies (51. 7%) were born to unmarried parents. Fertility rates in the major cities were at their lowest level in the average number of children that a group of women would like to have per woman. Edinburgh had the country's lowest total fertility rate (0. 25%). 99), followed by Glasgow City (1. 05) and Aberdeen City (1. 06). Midlothian (1. 66), East Renfrewshire (1. 56) and Na h-Eileanan Siar (1. 51) had the highest fertility rates.

Adoption figures remained stable around the region, with 369 in total last year. This was the same as 2023, but the number of adoptions has decreased in the long run.

The annual estimates for 2024 show a year of record lows,

Phillipa Haxton, the NRS' head of vital events statistics, said.

Births, fertility, stillbirth, and mortality rates in general are at their lowest level since our records were established.

These statistics represent long-term population shifts. Scotland has more deaths than births in the last ten years, according to Ms Haxton. The gap has widened over time, he said, although it was not significantly smaller in the most recent year due to a relatively high birth rate and fewer deaths.