Source: Office for National Statistics – Births in England and Wales: summary tables
Notes:
- The total fertility rate is the average number of live children that a group of women would bear if they experienced the age-specific fertility rates of the calendar year in question throughout their childbearing lifespan. For information on how the fertility rates have been calculated see the ONS user guide to birth statistics.
| Key dates | |
|---|---|
| 1939 - 1945 | Second World War |
| 1961 | Introduction of the contraceptive pill |
| 1967 | Family Planning Act Made contraception readily available through the NHS |
| 1967 | Abortion Act Legalised abortion under 28 weeks free on the NHS. |
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