The Surprising Birth Ratio Shift in 1973

In 1973, the birth ratio of baby boys to girls in England and Wales surged to unprecedented levels, marking the highest point of the 20th century. While it is typical for more boys to be born than girls, this spike indicated a significant deviation from the expected ratio of approximately 104 boys for every 100 girls. Factors contributing to this anomaly included a time of economic upheaval, with rising inflation and strikes occurring across various industries, creating a backdrop of increased stress. This period also saw a surge in teenage pregnancies and a decline in the age of marriage, leading to heightened sexual activity among young people, which may have influenced birth patterns in this turbulent year.