The Isle of Wight saw 946 babies born in 2025, with slightly more boys than girls and 13 sets of twins arriving during the year.
New statistics from the maternity department at St Mary’s Hospital reveal that 485 boys and 461 girls were welcomed into the world across the year.
The smallest baby weighed just 1lb 14oz, while the biggest arrival came in at a whopping 11lb 4oz.
As previously reported by Island Echo, a total of 2 babies were born on Christmas Day. And 2025 kicked off with the birth of a boy and girl at St Mary’s.
Not every birth followed the same path. There were 59 water births and 38 babies born at home or before reaching hospital. A total of 23 mothers successfully gave birth vaginally after a previous caesarean, known as a VBAC.
In total, 412 caesarean births were recorded – 198 planned and 214 unplanned. There were also 81 assisted vaginal deliveries and 314 labours induced.
Breastfeeding was initiated by 828 mothers shortly after birth.
Alongside the joy of new life, the maternity team has also taken time to remember all of the babies lost during pregnancy and after birth.
From water births to surprise early arrivals, the births of 2025 painted a diverse and deeply personal picture of new beginnings on the Isle of Wight.
In 2015, there were 1,296 live births. That’s a 28% decrease in a decade. Come on people!
I’d also be interested to see the data on mothers born in the UK and those born abroad as our Island has recently welcomed many newcomers from abroad….
Great to see, the island is finally diversifying
long overdue.
Any figures from previous years to see if the trend is upwards or downwards?
Births have been declining in general, but year on year here since 2013, except for the anomaly of 2022. Presumably after covid years of 2019-2021.
And they keep telling us the birth rates in the UK are down
considering the majority of the island are pensioners
that’s a lot of children.