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Birth Rates
There were 5,470 live births in Somerset in 2016 according to latest annual figures published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). This represented the lowest annual total for at least nine years, following a recent peak in 2011.
Trends in Live Births, Somerset, 2008 to 2016
At a district level, only Sedgemoor saw an increase in live births in 2016 (see table below).
Trends in Live Births by District, 2008 to 2016
- Nationally and in the South West as a whole the birth rate is highest in the 30 to 34 age group, while, based on 2015 data, in Somerset the profile is younger, with the highest birth rate in the 25 to 29 age group (116.4 per 1,000 women in the age group).
- In 2015, contrary to the national average, most births (53%) in Somerset were outside marriage (or civil partnership).
- Within the county, only in Taunton Deane were the majority registered within marriage/ civil partnership.
Fertility Rates
- The General Fertility Rate (GFR) in Somerset declined in 2016 to 63.0 births per 1,000 women aged 15-44. This was above the national average of 62.3.
- Somerset's Total Fertility Rate (TFR, the average number of live children a group of women would have if they experienced the age-specific fertility rates for the calendar year in question throughout their childbearing lifespan) was 1.95. This remains above national and South West averages (1.81 and 1.84 respectively).
- Amongst Somerset's Districts, the GFR and TFR were highest in Sedgemoor (see below).
|
General Fertility Rate |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
|
SOMERSET |
61.5 |
63.8 |
64.9 |
63.5 |
63.5 |
62.0 |
63.2 |
64.0 |
63.0 |
|
Mendip |
59.2 |
61.0 |
62.5 |
61.0 |
62.7 |
56.6 |
60.8 |
64.1 |
59.7 |
|
Sedgemoor |
58.9 |
66.5 |
69.2 |
63.5 |
65.0 |
64.3 |
65.4 |
65.8 |
66.8 |
|
South Somerset |
65.4 |
63.8 |
65.3 |
65.0 |
63.6 |
66.6 |
63.6 |
64.3 |
64.4 |
|
Taunton Deane |
62.8 |
65.5 |
64.5 |
64.4 |
63.6 |
59.0 |
63.3 |
62.4 |
62.1 |
|
West Somerset |
55.0 |
57.9 |
57.5 |
62.5 |
60.5 |
60.7 |
59.3 |
61.4 |
55.2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
Total Fertility Rate |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
|
SOMERSET |
2.11 |
2.20 |
2.23 |
2.07 |
2.05 |
1.98 |
1.99 |
2.00 |
1.95 |
|
Mendip |
2.10 |
2.22 |
2.26 |
2.05 |
2.10 |
1.88 |
2.01 |
2.08 |
1.91 |
|
Sedgemoor |
2.04 |
2.28 |
2.35 |
2.07 |
2.10 |
2.05 |
2.05 |
2.05 |
2.05 |
|
South Somerset |
2.23 |
2.19 |
2.23 |
2.11 |
2.05 |
2.11 |
1.99 |
2.00 |
1.99 |
|
Taunton Deane |
2.05 |
2.14 |
2.13 |
2.04 |
1.99 |
1.83 |
1.96 |
1.91 |
1.87 |
|
West Somerset |
2.16 |
2.10 |
2.10 |
2.00 |
1.91 |
1.88 |
1.84 |
1.89 |
1.71 |
Further Information
- For more detailed data tables for all local authorities, please go to the ONS website.
- For other data relating to babies, infants and young mothers, please go to our Pregnancy and Maternity page.
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Did you know?
Somerset in 2025 is ranked as 93 out of a total of 153 of Upper Tier English local authorities, up from 92 in 2019. Moving from rank 92 to 93 means the authority is relatively less deprived compared to others, but the difference is very minimal. (Indices of Deprivation 2025).