The line graph illustrates changes in the birth rates of women in six age groups in the UK between 1973 and 2008.
Overall, fertility among younger women declined noticeably, while the figures for those in their thirties rose considerably. Women aged 25-29 consistently recorded the highest rates, whereas those aged 40 and over remained the least fertile group.
Among the younger age groups, the fertility rate for women aged 25-29 was highest throughout, starting at around 140 births per 1,000 in 1973 before fluctuating and ending slightly lower at just under 120 in 2008. Similarly, women aged 20-25 experienced a steady fall from about 125 to 92, while the figure for teenagers dropped by almost half, from 60 to roughly 40.
In contrast, older women saw upward trends. The rate for those aged 30-35 rose gradually from 70 to 85 births per 1,000, and a much sharper increase was observed in the 35-39 group, which more than doubled from 40 to over 60 by the end of the period. Meanwhile, women aged 40 and above consistently had the lowest birth rates, declining only modestly from 20 to below 10.