Teenage pregnancies have fallen to their lowest level since records began, new figures have revealed.
The number of girls under-16 who became pregnant dropped by 10 per cent in a year to 4,160 in 2014.
The latest figures, from 2014, show that out of every 1,000 teenage girls aged 15 to 17 there were 22.9 pregnancies.
The fall has been attributed to young women wanting to continue their education, the stigma of being a teenage mother and better sex education.
Encouraging the use of long-acting contraception, such as the implant or injection, rather than the Pill, has also helped.
However experts warned today that Britain still 'lags behind much of Europe' and more must be done to reduce the level further.
And there are wild variations around the country, with the teenage pregnancy rate in the North East almost double that in the South East and South West.
The number of girls under-16 who became pregnant dropped by 10 per cent in a year to 4,160 in 2014
Overall, conceptions fell slightly in 2014, data from the Office for National Statistics found.
Key findings of the report include:
- Conceptions to women aged under 18 fell to 22,653 in 2014 compared with 24,306 in 2013 (a decrease of 6.8 per cent)
- There were 4,160 girls under-16 who became pregnant in 2014, compared with 4,648 in 2013 (10 per cent fall)
- In 2014 there were an estimated 871,038 conceptions to women of all ages, compared with 872,849 in 2013, a slight decrease of 0.2 per cent
Conception estimates include all pregnancies that lead to a maternity leading to birth or stillbirth, or an abortion.
The ONS said that conception rates in 2014 increased for women aged 25 years and over, and decreased for women aged under 25 years.
Teenage pregnancy rates and early motherhood is significant, as it is linked to poor educational achievement, poor physical and mental health, social isolation, poverty and related factors, the ONS said.
The ONS believes the drop in the number of under-age pregnancies could be explained by several factors, including the improved programmes of sex and relationship education introduced by successive governments.
Its report also stated that it could be due to a 'shift in aspirations of young women towards education' or the 'perception of stigma associated with being a teenage mother'.
The number of teenage pregnancies is now at the lowest level since records began in 1969
Conception rates vary dramatically around the country, with the teenage pregnancy rate in the North East almost double that in the South East and South West
Alison Hadley, who led the implementation of the previous Government's Teenage Pregnancy Strategy for England, said it was an 'extraordinary achievement'.
The director of the Teenage Pregnancy Knowledge Exchange, at the University of Bedfordshire, said: 'Many people thought the goal was unattainable and that high rates were an intractable part of life.
'This shows that committed senior leadership, dedicated local practitioners, effective education programmes and easier access to contraception equips young people to make informed choices and brings down rates even in deprived areas.'
'But despite the big reduction, the job is not done. England continues to lag behind comparable western European countries, teenagers continue to be at greatest risk of unplanned pregnancy and outcomes for some young parents and their children remain disproportionately poor.'
The sexual health charity FPA (Family Planning Association) welcomed the continued decrease but insisted there was still a long way to go.
'Not all teenage pregnancies are unplanned or unwanted, but young people who become parents under 18 have a higher risk of poorer health, education, economic and social outcomes,' said CEO Natika Halil.
'This ongoing reduction is the result of a joint effort, including the legacy of the Teenage Pregnancy Strategy, which ended in 2010, and the continued work of health and education professionals to support young people in making informed choices that are best for their lives.'
However, the charity pointed to huge variations by region ranging from 18.8 (per 1,000 women aged 15 to 17) in the South East and South West to 30.2 in the North East.
'In the last year we have seen the Government fail to make sex and relationships education statutory and significant cuts made to public health budgets in England.
'Neither is going to help bring the country's teenage pregnancy rate more in line with other countries in Europe and both need to be given serious consideration.'
The new figures come as a growing number of women are delaying motherhood as they prioritise their careers.
Balancing concerns over the cost of raising a child, uncertainty over job security and unstable relationships are increasingly causing women to delay having a baby.
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