‘Tumbling’ Fertility Rates Mean UK Will Need More Immigrants, Says Research

Published on March 21, 2024

“Tumbling” fertility rates will force countries like Britain to allow in more immigrants or face declines in living standards and labour shortages, research suggests. The research, published in The Lancet on March 20, says the fertility rate in the UK fell from 2.19 in 1950 to 1.85 in 1980 and then to an all-time low of 1.49 in 2021. Researchers predicted Britain’s fertility rate is set to fall further to 1.38 in 2050 and 1.30 by the end of the century. Demographers say a fertility rate of 2.1 is needed in order to maintain a steady population. The study, which was funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, looked at fertility rates around the world and highlighted huge differences, with rates only remaining high in sub-Saharan Africa....

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