Only half of women now have kids by the age of 30 as figures hit record low

ONLY half of women are now mums by the age of 30, figures show.

And the number of those having children earlier than that is at record lows.

The Office for National Statistics said 49 per cent of girls born in 1989 were childless when they turned 30 last year.

This is up from 38 per cent in their mums’ generation and 21 per cent in their gran’s.

Experts say women are delaying parenthood to go to university and pursue their careers.

It is also harder to get on the property ladder to provide a stable family home.

Katherine O’Brien, of the British Pregnancy Advisory Service, said: “We know many women would prefer to start a family at an earlier age but feel unable to for a number of reasons.

“This includes the high cost of childcare and how hard it is for couples to get their first home.”

But she said there are positive reasons, adding: “Many women want higher levels of education and to establish their career before starting their family.”

Women born in 1974, who completed their childbearing in 2019, had 1.92 children on average, the ONS figures show.

The most common age for childbirth for these women was 31.

Last year, 18 per cent turned 45 having had no children and 37 per cent had two, making it the most common family size.

Ms O’Brien added: “With the economic uncertainty caused by the Covid pandemic, it is likely the average age of motherhood will continue to increase.”

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