Recent changes in caesarean birth rates in England

Published on Friday, 05 June 2026 Post

Professor Marian Knight, Director of the NPEU, has been on BBC Breakfast this morning discussing the recent changes in caesarean birth rates in England. A BBC news article highlights the increase in emergency caesarean births. This draws on findings in a new short report that compares English published data to international rates.

The report provides a broader context for the recent observed temporal trends in England, highlighting a marked increase in caesarean births since 2019 that is not reflected in other countries. The research seeks to understand the drivers of these trends, by drawing on evidence on the changing health of the nation and the wider context of maternity care in England. Our next steps will be to examine the evidence to understand the potential reasons for the trend, and the consequences of the changing nature of birth.

June 2026 NPEU International Caesarean rates

How to cite: Ambia, J; Alderdice F, Knight, M, Rowe R, Sanders J, Carson, C. Short Report: International comparison of caesarean birth rates, 2020 – 2025, National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, Nuffield Department of Women's and Reproductive Health, University of Oxford. 02 June 2026. http://www.doi.org/10.5287/ora-z6obzn5pq