Number Of Teenage Mums In NI Hits Record Low

The number of teenage mothers giving birth in Northern Ireland hit a record low in 2017, according to newly published figures.

The Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) carried out a report which shows that just 692 of the 23,075 births in Northern Ireland last year were to mothers under the age of 20.

The figure is less than half of the number recorded a decade previously (1,405) and 65% fewer than 30 years ago (2,008).

The average age of first-time mums has continually risen and is now up to 28.7 years, from 25 in 1987. The average age of all mums has also increased from 27.6 years old to 30.8 over the last three decades.

In addition, the amount of births occuring outside of marriage has increased to 23% from the 14% recorded in 1987, and tragically 102 stillbirths were registered in Northern Ireland in 2017.

Both men and women are waiting on average six years longer to tie the knot compared to 30 years ago, with the average age of first-time brides and grooms now at 30 and 32 years respectively, up from 24 years for brides and 26 for grooms.



(JG/CM)