In a significant demographic shift, official Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures reveal that one third of births in England and Wales last year were to mothers born overseas. The data indicates that 32% of children were born to non-UK-born mothers in 2023, marking the highest proportion since the records began in 2001 when the figure was at 17%.
This trend highlights the evolving nature of Britain’s post-Brexit immigration landscape. India maintained its position as the most common country of origin for foreign-born mothers, a status it achieved after surpassing Romania in 2022.
Key insights from 2023 ONS report include:
- Rising Proportions: The percentage of live births to non-UK-born mothers increased to 31.8% from 30.3% in 2022, continuing an upward trend.
- Diverse Parentage: A total of 37.3% of live births involved parents where at least one was born outside the UK, up from 35.8% the previous year.
- Dominant Origins: India and Pakistan continued to be the leading countries of birth for non-UK-born parents, with India as the most common.
- Regional Variations: London recorded the highest proportion of births to parents with at least one born outside the UK, at 67.4%. Conversely, Wales and the North East of England had the lowest proportions, at 17.5% and 20.5%, respectively.
- Age and Birth Trends: The likelihood of giving birth to a child with a non-UK-born mother increased with the mother’s age, ranging from 15.8% for mothers under 20 years to 53.9% for mothers aged 45 and over.
These statistics underscore a broader regional and age-related trend of increasing birth rates among foreign-born mothers across England and Wales, reflecting a dynamic shift in the country’s demographic composition. This data not only illustrates the diversity of the population but also points to the changing face of family structures in contemporary Britain.
