The composition of families continues to change over time.
- The generation of women born in 1951 had 2.04 children; the generation born in 1978 have 1.95 children.
- The forecast is for the next generation (born in 2007) to have just 1.52 children
- Girls who have been born this year are projected to have just 1.46 children
- The Office for National Statistics says the age at which women are having children is increasing too.
- In 1951, women had one child by the age of 26. In 1978 women had one child by the age of 31. That age is projected to rise to 35 for women born in 2007 and 36 for those born this year.