Watford's fertility rate has fallen slightly amid record low births in England and Wales.

Recently released figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show there was an average of 1.6 live births per woman in Watford in 2023 – down slightly from 1.61 the year before.

Nationally, the rate for England and Wales fell to the lowest level since records began in 1938, at 1.44.

The fertility rate is defined as the average number of live children a group of women would have if they experienced the age-specific fertility rates throughout their childbearing life.

Some experts have suggested economic uncertainty with the cost-of-living crisis, difficulties finding a partner, and more people deciding not to have children may be factors in the falling birth rate.

Professor Melinda Mills, professor of demography and population health at the University of Oxford, said: "People are actively postponing or forgoing children due to issues related to difficulties in finding a partner, housing, economic uncertainty, remaining longer in education and particularly women entering and staying in the labour force."

She added: "Some individuals also actively make the choice to remain childfree."

There was also a fall in the birth rate across the wider Hertfordshire area.

The ONS data shows an average of 1.52 live births per woman in the county in 2023 – down from 1.56 the year before.

In the East of England region, it fell from 1.58 in 2022 to 1.53 last year.

The biggest drops in the overall total fertility rate were in Wales (1.46 to 1.39) and the North West (1.53 to 1.46).

London, the North East and the West Midlands saw the smallest decreases.

Meanwhile, the total number of live births in England and Wales also fell, with 591,072 registered last year. It is the lowest figure since 1977.

There were 1,319 in Watford in 2023 – down from 1,330 the year before.

The ONS said the fertility rate has declined most sharply for women aged between 20 and 24 and 25 and 29.

Analysis has found that the UK's fertility rate is declining faster than any other country in the G7.