The line graph illustrates changes in the birth rate of women in the UK across six age groups between 1973 and 2008.
Overall, women aged 25-29 had the highest birth rate for the overall period. In contrast, the birth rates for women aged 30-35 and 35-39 increased. The rates for women under 20, 20-24 and 40 and over generally decreased.
In 1973, the birth rate among women aged 25-29 was the highest, at around 138 births per 1,000 women. It then fell to about 120 in 1983, rose slightly to approximately 133 in 1993 and finally decreased to around 118 in 2008. Similarly, the figure for the 20-24 age group dropped steadily from about 123 to 93 births per 1,000 women during the period.
The birth rate for women aged 30-35 increased gradually from rough 70 in 1973 to about 84 in 2008. And more significant rise was saw among women aged 35-39, whose rate climb from around 38 to 64. By contrast, the rate for women under 20 declined from approximately 58 to 38 births per 1,000 women. Finally women aged 40 and over consistently recorded the lowest figures, falling slightly from about 18 to
