The number of births in Jersey fell to a new low in the first quarter of 2025, according to new figures.
A policy brief published by the Policy Centre Jersey revealed that just 151 births were recorded in the island in the first three months of this year.
This is 13% lower than the number of births recorded in the first quarter of 2024.
In contrast, 256 deaths were recorded in the first quarter of 2025 – an increase of 15% on the previous year.
Deaths in the first three months of this year therefore exceeded births by 105, compared with 50 in 2024.
If the trend shown in the first quarter of 2025 continues throughout the year, then births for the year are likely to be in the 620-640 range, according to Policy Centre Jersey.
This would be a 30% reduction on the number of births in 2021, and a 44% reduction on the peak figure recorded in 2012.
Mark Boleat, the Policy Centre Jersey’s Senior Adviser said: “Over the last few years discussion on population policy has shifted from reducing immigration towards the implications of the ageing population.
“But it is also important to consider the shorter-term implications of the fall in the number of births.
“The 30% reduction since 2021 has obvious implications for the demand for early years services and primary school enrolment, which will require structural changes in the school system.”
He explained that it is unclear why there has been such a drastic fall in the number of births in Jersey.
“As in other jurisdictions there has been a fall in the birth rate, that is the number of births in relation to the size of the population,” he said.
“But it may also reflect emigration and reduce immigration of people in their twenties and thirties.”