"There were 624,828 live births in England and Wales in 2021, an increase of 1.8% from 613,936 in 2020, but still below the 2019 figure (640,370); 2021 remains in line with the long-term trend of decreasing live births seen before the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic."
That passing mention of "the long-term trend of decreasing live births" is a reference to the demographic timebomb facing most developed countries.
Re: Jessica Rose, Australia Births Numbers
E.g. here's the latest data from the UK: https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/livebirths/bulletins/birthsummarytablesenglandandwales/2021
"There were 624,828 live births in England and Wales in 2021, an increase of 1.8% from 613,936 in 2020, but still below the 2019 figure (640,370); 2021 remains in line with the long-term trend of decreasing live births seen before the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic."
That passing mention of "the long-term trend of decreasing live births" is a reference to the demographic timebomb facing most developed countries.