Live births in Wales by data source

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Data valuesData descriptionYearAreaData source
25,443Number2024WalesMaternity Indicators data set
26,944Number2024WalesNational Community Child Health Database
26,832Number2024WalesOffice for National Statistics
26,620Number2023WalesMaternity Indicators data set
27,457Number2023WalesNational Community Child Health Database
27,374Number2023WalesOffice for National Statistics
27,420Number2022WalesMaternity Indicators data set
28,388Number2022WalesNational Community Child Health Database
28,296Number2022WalesOffice for National Statistics
27,883Number2021WalesMaternity Indicators data set
28,879Number2021WalesNational Community Child Health Database
28,781Number2021WalesOffice for National Statistics
27,572Number2020WalesMaternity Indicators data set
28,781Number2020WalesNational Community Child Health Database
28,638Number2020WalesOffice for National Statistics
28,728Number2019WalesMaternity Indicators data set
29,728Number2019WalesNational Community Child Health Database
29,704Number2019WalesOffice for National Statistics
30,131Number2018WalesMaternity Indicators data set
31,329Number2018WalesNational Community Child Health Database
31,274Number2018WalesOffice for National Statistics
30,435Number2017WalesMaternity Indicators data set
32,236Number2017WalesNational Community Child Health Database
32,176Number2017WalesOffice for National Statistics
30,775Number2016WalesMaternity Indicators data set
33,004Number2016WalesNational Community Child Health Database
32,936Number2016WalesOffice for National Statistics
33,361Number2015WalesNational Community Child Health Database
33,279Number2015WalesOffice for National Statistics
33,648Number2014WalesNational Community Child Health Database
33,544Number2014WalesOffice for National Statistics
33,822Number2013WalesNational Community Child Health Database
33,747Number2013WalesOffice for National Statistics
35,350Number2012WalesNational Community Child Health Database
35,238Number2012WalesOffice for National Statistics
35,682Number2011WalesNational Community Child Health Database
35,598Number2011WalesOffice for National Statistics

Next update expected:August 2026

Updates

19th December 2025
Dataset first published.

Main information

Designation
Accredited official statistics
Data provider 1
Digital Health and Care Wales (DHCW)
Data source 1
Maternity Indicators Dataset (MIDS)
Data provider 2
Digital Health and Care Wales (DHCW)
Data source 2
National Community Child Health Database (NCCHD)
Data provider 3
Office for National Statistics (ONS)
Data source 3
No specific source from data provider

Overview

Summary of dataset and variables

Number of live births as calculated by Welsh Government from 2 data sources and for birth registration data by Office for National Statistics.

These statistics are derived from two data sources: the Maternity Indicators dataset (MI ds) and the National Community Child Health Database (NCCHD). Both data sources are provided to the Welsh Government by Digital Health and Care Wales (DHCW).

The MI ds combines records from a mother’s initial assessment with a child’s birth record.

The NCCHD consists of anonymised records for all children born, resident or treated in Wales and born after 1987. The database brings together data from local Community Child Health System databases which are held by local health boards (LHBs) and its main function is to provide an online record of a child’s health and care from birth to leaving school age.

The statistics used in this release are based on the data recorded at birth and shortly after birth.

Birth registration statistics are routinely produced by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and should be used as the main source for the number of births in Wales.

Analysing data from the NCCHD provides additional information on new-born children which is not available through the ONS’ official measure on the number of births. Data from both sources is very closely aligned, but the ONS measure allows for more accurate comparisons between UK countries.

Full details of every data item available in the Maternity Indicators dataset are available through the NHS Wales Data Dictionary.

Data collection or calculation

Data from the Maternity Indicators dataset only includes initial assessment data where the initial assessment and birth both occurred in the same health board, in Wales only.

Data should include all hospital births and some home births; however, due to the way data is recorded, we are unable to distinguish between home and hospital births in some health boards. Births to Welsh resident mothers who gave birth in England or in any other country outside of Wales are not included in the data.

Data for each calendar year refers to when the baby was born for both birth and initial assessment statistics. Initial assessments may have taken place in the previous year but would be counted in the year in which the birth occurred. This ensures data throughout a single pregnancy is recorded in the same year.

The NCCHD includes records of all children born in, resident in or receiving services in their relevant local health boards. This means the database contains some information for some children not currently residing in Wales; however, unless otherwise stated, all statistics produced from data sourced from this database is filtered to only include those children born in Wales. It also means that data is available for Welsh resident mothers who gave birth in England.

Statistical quality

There are no specific statistical quality issues in relation to this data.

Related reports

Published by

Organisation
Welsh Government
Contact email
stats.healthinfo@gov.wales

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