Number of live births in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Number of live births was 673,275 births in 2022. ▬ Flat
Latest (2022)
673,275 births
Change on year
down 3.1%
World rank
6th
of 34 countries
All-time high
812,970 births
in 2012
All-time low
657,038 births
in 1977
Years of data
49
1974–2022
Number of live births in United Kingdom, 1974–2022
Source: Human Fertility Database (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in births.
Analysis
United Kingdom recorded 673,275 births for number of live births in 2022.
That represents a change of down 3.1% on the previous year and down 17.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of live births in United Kingdom peaked at 812,970 births in 2012 and was at its lowest, 657,038 births, in 1977.
United Kingdom ranks 6th of 34 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Number of live births in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | births | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1974 | 737,137 births | — |
| 1975 | 697,518 births | -5.4% |
| 1976 | 675,526 births | -3.2% |
| 1977 | 657,038 births | -2.7% |
| 1978 | 686,951 births | +4.6% |
| 1979 | 734,572 births | +6.9% |
| 1980 | 753,706 births | +2.6% |
| 1981 | 730,712 births | -3.1% |
| 1982 | 718,999 births | -1.6% |
| 1983 | 721,238 births | +0.3% |
| 1984 | 729,401 births | +1.1% |
| 1985 | 750,520 births | +2.9% |
| 1986 | 754,805 births | +0.6% |
| 1987 | 775,405 births | +2.7% |
| 1988 | 787,303 births | +1.5% |
| 1989 | 777,036 births | -1.3% |
| 1990 | 798,364 births | +2.7% |
| 1991 | 792,269 births | -0.8% |
| 1992 | 780,799 births | -1.4% |
| 1993 | 761,526 births | -2.5% |
| 1994 | 750,480 births | -1.5% |
| 1995 | 731,882 births | -2.5% |
| 1996 | 733,163 births | +0.2% |
| 1997 | 726,622 births | -0.9% |
| 1998 | 716,888 births | -1.3% |
| 1999 | 699,976 births | -2.4% |
| 2000 | 679,029 births | -3.0% |
| 2001 | 669,123 births | -1.5% |
| 2002 | 668,777 births | -0.1% |
| 2003 | 695,549 births | +4.0% |
| 2004 | 715,996 births | +2.9% |
| 2005 | 722,549 births | +0.9% |
| 2006 | 748,563 births | +3.6% |
| 2007 | 772,245 births | +3.2% |
| 2008 | 794,383 births | +2.9% |
| 2009 | 790,204 births | -0.5% |
| 2010 | 807,271 births | +2.2% |
| 2011 | 807,776 births | +0.1% |
| 2012 | 812,970 births | +0.6% |
| 2013 | 778,803 births | -4.2% |
| 2014 | 776,352 births | -0.3% |
| 2015 | 777,165 births | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 774,835 births | -0.3% |
| 2017 | 755,042 births | -2.6% |
| 2018 | 731,213 births | -3.2% |
| 2019 | 712,680 births | -2.5% |
| 2020 | 681,560 births | -4.4% |
| 2021 | 694,685 births | +1.9% |
| 2022 | 673,275 births | -3.1% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 673,275 births is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 89,018 births, 7.6× the median. (28 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 673,275 births is above the median for high income countries, which is 98,451 births, 6.8× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 698,124 births | 657,038 births | 737,137 births | 6 |
| 1980s | 749,912 births | 718,999 births | 787,303 births | 10 |
| 1990s | 749,197 births | 699,976 births | 798,364 births | 10 |
| 2000s | 725,642 births | 668,777 births | 794,383 births | 10 |
| 2010s | 773,411 births | 712,680 births | 812,970 births | 10 |
| 2020s | 683,173 births | 673,275 births | 694,685 births | 3 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More population data for United Kingdom
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.0706 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.1791 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 0.1389 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.1791 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.2% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 3.21 million people (2100)
- Population density 307.14 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -0.2% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.169 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.2666 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of live births in United Kingdom?
- Number of live births in United Kingdom was 673,275 births in 2022, according to Human Fertility Database (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of live births recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 812,970 births in 2012.
- What is the lowest number of live births recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 657,038 births in 1977.
- How does United Kingdom rank for number of live births?
- United Kingdom ranks 6th out of 34 countries with data for 2022.
- Is number of live births rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 17.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this United Kingdom data come from?
- The figures come from Human Fertility Database (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of live births. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 49 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Total number of live births recorded in a given year.