Caesarean Sections
(asked on 19th October 2026) - View Source
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government, for each year since 2016, (1) what proportion of births were delivered by caesarean section, and (2) how many women and babies died because a caesarean section was delayed or postponed; what assessment they have made of the reasons for any changes in these figures over time; and what steps they are taking to reduce any risk of a woman being pressured into agreeing to an unnecessary elective caesarean section.
The following table details what proportion of births were delivered by caesarean section from 2015/16 to 2024/25:
Year | Method of delivery | |
Caesarean elective | Caesarean emergency | |
2015/16 | 11.5% | 15.6% |
2016/17 | 12.1% | 15.7% |
2017/18 | 12.6% | 16.2% |
2018/19 | 13.2% | 16.9% |
2019/20 | 13.7% | 17.5% |
2020/21 | 14.6% | 18.9% |
2021/22 | 15.9% | 20.1% |
2022/23 | 17.4% | 21.9% |
2023/24 | 18.7% | 23.7% |
2024/25 | 20.0% | 25.1% |
The information on how many women and babies died because a caesarean section was delayed or postponed is not held by the Department.
The National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit will be examining the evidence to understand the potential reasons for the increasing rate of caesarean birth and the consequences of the changing nature of birth. Women must always be able to make the choice about the type of birth that is right for them, based on clear information about risks and benefits.