Why teenage pregnancies have fallen so sharply in England and Wales
In short
Yes. In England and Wales the under-18 conception rate fell to 13.2 per 1,000 women in 2021, less than half the 2011 rate of 30.9, according to the ONS. The under-16 rate dropped from 6.1 to 2.1 per 1,000. The ONS notes that the Teenage Pregnancy Strategy launched in 1999 and later initiatives may have contributed.
What the full article will cover
- How have teenage conception rates changed?
- What was the 1999 Teenage Pregnancy Strategy?
- What role does sex and relationships education play?
- Which areas still have higher rates?
- How do UK rates compare with the rest of Europe?
Frequently asked questions
- Did teenage pregnancy rise during the pandemic?
- Are most teenage mothers unmarried?
- Does Scotland publish separate figures?
- What happens to teenage conceptions — births or abortions?
Sources
- ons.gov.uk — https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/conceptionandfertilityrates/bulletins/conceptionstatistics/2021
- legislation.gov.uk — https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2017/16/section/34
General information, not legal or religious advice.