Tuesday 9 August 2022 10:52 PM Albanians are in the top 10 of foreign-born parents giving birth in UK, data ... trends now

Tuesday 9 August 2022 10:52 PM Albanians are in the top 10 of foreign-born parents giving birth in UK, data ... trends now
Tuesday 9 August 2022 10:52 PM Albanians are in the top 10 of foreign-born parents giving birth in UK, data ... trends now

Tuesday 9 August 2022 10:52 PM Albanians are in the top 10 of foreign-born parents giving birth in UK, data ... trends now

Albanians are among the most common foreign-born parents in the UK for the first time.

More than 3,000 babies were born here last year to mothers from the Balkan country, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has revealed.

But the figures have prompted questions about the true size of the Albanian population in the UK, which according to official figures stands at less than 50,000.

It comes after a shock report leaked to The Mail on Sunday revealed four in ten migrants crossing the Channel in dinghies were from Albania – a peaceful nation in talks to join the EU – far outnumbering those fleeing war or persecution in Afghanistan or Syria.

Some 3,000 children were born to Albanian-born mothers according to new data released by the Office of National Statistics

Some 3,000 children were born to Albanian-born mothers according to new data released by the Office of National Statistics

The Mail on Sunday had earlier revealed that four in ten people arriving in the UK after crossing the English Channel on small boats is from Albania. Pictured, migrants arriving in Dover earlier this month

The Mail on Sunday had earlier revealed that four in ten people arriving in the UK after crossing the English Channel on small boats is from Albania. Pictured, migrants arriving in Dover earlier this month

The ONS said Romania was the most common country of birth for non-UK-born mothers. 'Albania moved into the top ten most common countries of birth for both non-UK-born mothers and non-UK-born fathers for the first time,' the ONS said.

Among mothers, Albania became the tenth most common country, up from the 41st a decade ago.

And among fathers it became the eighth most common country, up from 36th a decade ago.

Former home office minister Sir John Hayes said: 'It is peculiar that there should be so many babies born here to Albanian parents given the official statistics on their numbers. One is left asking if large numbers of Albanians are here illegally or if they are being granted visas by some other means, and if so why.'

ONS figures for 2019 estimated there were just 47,000 Albanians in the UK – making them the 46th most common overseas-born nationality – of whom 22,000 were female.

Peter Walsh of the Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford said: 'Available immigration data do not provide a clear explanation of why Albania has moved for the first time into the top ten most common countries of birth for migrant parents.

'Possible explanations for this include the ONS population estimate being too low [for example due to irregular migration or low response to government surveys], or that Albanians are more likely to be of childbearing age and hence have more children.'

Majority of babies were born out of wedlock in 2021 for the first time on record and British women in their 40s now twice as likely to give birth than teens, official figures show

More babies were born outside of marriage in England and Wales last year than to wedded couples for the first time on record, official figures show.

The latest Office for National Statistics data shows around 625,000 live births were logged in the two nations in 2021. But 321,000 of these were outside of marriage or a civil partnership, while 304,000 were within one.

It means just 48.7 per cent of newborns were to a legal couple, falling below the 50 per cent threshold for the first time since records began in 1845. The rate has been trending downwards for the last century.

Meanwhile, the figures also reveal that twice as many women aged 40 and over became mothers last year compared to teenagers, with 30,542 and 13,738 births logged, respectively, marking the biggest gap ever seen.

More babies were born outside of marriage in England and Wales last year than to wedded couples for the first time on record, official figures show. The latest Office for National Statistics data shows around 625,000 live births were logged in the two nations in 2021. But 321,000 of these were outside of marriage or a civil partnership, while 304,000 were within one

More babies were born outside of marriage in England and Wales last year than to wedded couples for the first time on record, official figures show. The latest Office for National Statistics data shows around 625,000 live births were logged in the two nations in 2021. But 321,000 of these were outside of marriage or a civil partnership, while 304,000 were within one

The slight increase in births last year was driven mainly by women in their 30s, with women aged 35 to 39 (light green) seeing the sharpest increase at around 5 per cent. Women aged 20 and under saw a fall of 16 per cent

The slight increase in births last year was driven mainly by women in their 30s, with women aged 35 to 39 (light green) seeing the sharpest increase at around 5 per cent. Women aged 20 and under saw a fall of 16 per cent

The changing face of British families comes against the backdrop of declining fertility rates that dates back

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