One in ten young people from Gen-Z have had children compared with almost one in four millennials at a similar age, a new study has revealed.
The findings stem from a study of almost 10,000 participants in the Millennium Cohort Study (MCS), carried out by the UCL Centre for Longitudinal Studies.
The study looked at the lives of 19,000 Gen-Z participants (born between 2000 and 2002) and found that only 10 per cent had become parents by the age of 23.
Separate data from a UCL study called “Next Steps” found that in an analysis of 16,000 millennials (born in 1989-1990), 24 per cent had become parents by the age of 25.
The study confirms trends pointing towards a falling birthrate in the UK across the planet, as well as an increase in the age when people enter parenthood, the Times reported.
This was compounded by last August’s figures from the Office for National Statistics, which showed that the fertility rate in England and Wales had dropped for the third year in a row. The total fertility rate reduced to 1.41 children per woman, marking the lowest since data began to be collected in 1938.
Between 2004 and 2023, the average age for new mothers in England and Wales increased from 29 to 31. For fathers, it rose from 32 to 33.9. Despite this, 61 per cent of Gen Z still have a strong desire to become parents in the future, or to have more children if they are already parents, the paper reported.
In tandem, the study found that two thirds of Gen Z (68 per cent) were living with their parents at the age of 23. This marks three times the proportion of millennials living at home at a similar age as a decade before. More than a fifth of Gen Z said they were renting, while one in 20 owns their accommodation, and the same proportion lived in other lodgings, such as university halls.
Around a quarter said they had not left home yet because they could not afford to move out, and almost a fifth said they were living at home to save for a deposit. One in eight reported they did not yet feel ready to leave the family home.
In terms of romantic relationships, 54 per cent of Gen Z had a partner at the age of 23 and 17 per cent lived with them. Of the millennials who participated in the UCL Next Steps study, a much lower proportion (23 per cent) lived with their parents at the age of 25. Thirty-nine per cent rented and 17 per cent owned their own home. Around 40 per cent lived with their partner.
Charlotte Booth, the lead author of the study, said the findings indicated that Gen Z was delaying adult milestones in comparison with previous generations, which she claimed was “partly due to challenging economic conditions and the high cost of living, making it unaffordable for young people to move out”.
“These financial challenges may lead to a cascade of problems in the future, including lower birth rates and higher rates of mental health problems,” Booth warned. “Policymakers should consider helping young people to gain independence and have the opportunity to start families of their own through policies that support them to find affordable homes and good jobs.
“With pressing concerns about a declining workforce and ageing population across society, helping Gen Z to reach adult milestones is likely to improve this generation’s mental health and help to increase future economic growth and stability in the UK.”
