Teenage pregnancies in England and Wales hit record low

Just over 20,000 children were born to teenage mothers last year – the lowest ever recorded in England and Wales.

Figures from the Office for National Statistics show that in 2015, there were 20,351 conceptions to girls under 18, a 10% decrease from 2014.

There were 21 pregnancies out of every 1,000 teenage girls in 2015, compared with 47.1 in 1969 when comparable records began.

In 1969, there were 45,495 teenage pregnancies.

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Among the factors cited by the ONS for the drop in pregnancies, include a shift in aspirations of young women towards education, a stigma associated with being a teenage mother, better sex education and improved access to contraceptives.

The areas with the highest rates of teenage pregnancy, including Blackpool, Burnley and Kingston upon Hull.

Across all age groups the number of conceptions had risen slightly and the figures also show that most babies are conceived out of wedlock.

The ONS said 57% of pregnancies 2015 in England and Wales occurred outside marriage.

Women aged 30 to 34 had the lowest percentage of abortions in 2015, while girls under 16 had the highest rate at six in 10 conceptions.

Izzi Seccombe, chairwoman of the Local Government Association’s community and wellbeing board, said: “The Government’s decision to make sex and relationships education compulsory in schools will help young people to develop healthy relationships, delay early pregnancy, and look after their sexual health.

“However, we are concerned that all this good work could be put at risk by the false economy of government cuts to councils’ public health funding, and that the drop in teenage conception rates will be even harder to sustain.

Professor Kevin Fenton, director of health and wellbeing at Public Health England, said: “It is good news that the rate of teenage pregnancy continues to decline, as it is linked to poor future health for both parents and babies.”