Fertility rate highest for 34 years

Is there something in the water, or is England and Wales experiencing something of a baby boom? The latest figures from the Office of National Statistics show that the average number of children per woman in England and Wales is now 1.91 - which is the highest number since 1973 when the average was two children for every woman.

This is the sixth consecutive increase in fertility year on year since 2001, but it's still a long way off the 1960s peak when the average was 2.93 children per woman. And it's all age groups which are seeing the increase, except for women under the age of 20. The biggest change, year on year, has been in woman aged over 40. Figures for that age group have leapt 6% since last year.

The most fertile and least fertile areas in England and Wales are both in London. Newham had the highest Total Fertility Rate with 2.71 children per woman, while Westminster had the lowest rate - 1.24.

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