Birth rate rises in the region

A fascinating snapshot into the birthrate of Bedfordshire and Milton Keynes over the past 13 years has revealed the highs and lows of the population.
Which are Britain's most fertile cities?Which are Britain's most fertile cities?
Which are Britain's most fertile cities?

Figures from the statistics authority ONS show a big rise in births during the middle of the period before settling down in 2014 to slightly higher across the board than in 2001.

Luton predictably had the highest number of births per woman with 2.01 in 2001 and 2012 in 2014. That figure reached its height in 2007 wih 2.36 births per woman.

In Central Bedfordshire, which covers Dunstable, Leighton Buzzard and Biggleswade, 2001 saw 1.76 births per woman which rose to 1.92 in 2014. Its baby boom was on 2011 with 2.11 births per woman.

Bedford started out with 1.61 in 2001 but showed the biggest leap to 2.03 in 2014. Its highest year was 2009 with 2.10 births.

In Milton Keynes there were 1.76 births per woman in 2001 with a baby boom to 2.15 in 2008 and 2010. It has now settled at 1.98 births.

Nationally there were 695,233 live births in England and Wales in 2014, a decrease of 0.5% from 698,512 in 2013.

Average age women gave birth was 30.2 years old in 2014, the highest since records began in 1938.