The BBC highlights findings from a new NPEU short report comparing published maternity data from England with international trends. The analysis shows a marked increase in caesarean births in England since 2020, particularly emergency caesareans, which now account for around a quarter of all births. Over the same period, the proportion of births delivered vaginally without instruments has fallen from 53% to 43%.
By comparing data across 42 countries, the report provides important international context for these changes. While caesarean birth rates have increased in some countries, the rise observed in England has been notably steeper than in many comparable European nations. England moved from 14th to 9th among 42 countries ranked by caesarean birth rates between 2020 and 2025.
Professor Knight said the findings represent a "total change in how women give birth" in England and noted that similar increases have not been seen across much of Europe.
Read the full story on the Nuffield Department of Women's & Reproductive Health website.