STARK new statistics showing its plummeting birth rate should be a wake-up call for government, business and society, the Chamber of Commerce has said – warning that Jersey is rapidly becoming a “smaller, older island”.
Published last week, the latest Births and Breastfeeding Report showed that there were 720 births to Jersey-resident mothers recorded in 2024 – the lowest number since records began in 1995.
This was 10% lower than in 2023 (799), and 36% lower than the latest peak in birth numbers seen in 2012 (1,124).
Sir Mark Boleat, who helps shape the work of local thinktank Policy Centre Jersey, said that part of the issue was young Islanders leaving Jersey, who otherwise would have had children here.
According to the report, the percentage of mothers aged 20 to 29 giving birth in Jersey fell from 42% in the late 90s to 25% by 2022.
“That comes back to the cost of living,” Mr Boleat continued, noting the impact of housing costs – particularly on “people without a bank of mum and dad”.
“They are looking at the cost of bringing up children, and housing – they can get somewhere in the UK for a lot less than they are paying in Jersey,” he added.
Mr Boleat acknowledged the “long-term” implications regarding the Island’s ageing population, but pointed out that the “initial impact” of the fall in births would be felt by primary schools.
The Chamber of Commerce also raised concerns over the latest birth figures, stating that Jersey is becoming “a smaller, older island”, which has “implications for every sector of our community and economy”.
“For Jersey, a falling birth rate is not just a personal or cultural shift. It raises big questions for our future workforce, our schools, and even how we support an ageing population,” chief executive Murray Norton said.
“Fewer young people coming through the ranks could mean skills shortages, slower economic growth, and increased pressure on services and pensions.”
He added: “The question of how we support families, encourage growth, adjust population policies and prepare for demographic change should be high on the agenda for business, government, and society alike.”
It comes after the JEP reported last month how Jersey’s abortion ratio had reached its highest level on record – almost double the EU average.
Responding to the figures at the time, Deputy Louise Doublet said that many Islanders “want to start a family, but simply cannot afford to do so”.
The rising cost of living locally has also been cited by many as one of the key reasons behind what’s been dubbed the ‘Bean drain’ – the exodus of Jersey-born and qualified people.
Jersey’s young adult population shrunk by 7% between 2017 and 2023, with the decline particularly pronounced among 20- to 24-year-olds in Jersey, where the population fell during that period by 13%, compared to a 2% decrease across the water in Guernsey.
- News focus on the latest birth statistics on pages 8 and 9 of today’s JEP.
