Not enough men to go around in London’s dating scene, study finds

He added that variables such as “demanding work schedules, high-stress levels, the absence of local extended family support, urban cultural norms, cost of living, and housing availability” could explain the London effect.

Shaw told The Telegraph: “This data uncovers a remarkably high challenge in finding a family-oriented partner in London compared to other parts of the UK. 

Nearly half of women in the capital consider this a significant problem. With low birth rates around the world being driven by unplanned childlessness, it’s evident that many women in London face a high risk of lifelong childlessness.”

‘An equal to marry’ 

Phoebe Arslanagić-Little, of the New Deal for Parents at Onward, a campaign group, said: “One factor that makes it particularly difficult to start a family in London is sky-high housing costs, forcing young people to live in house shares or with their parents for far longer than they want to. 

“That leaves them with little choice but to delay having children. A young adult under 35 in 1997 was most likely to live as a couple with children. But today, most live with their parents. This is why making it easier for people to have children means building more homes and ending the housing crisis.”

Philly Ponniah, financial coach at Philly Financial, works with high-achieving women looking to build wealth and said: “I’ve seen an increasing number of my high achieving female clients struggle to find the right man. These women are bright, attractive, have good jobs and high salaries and yet cannot find an equal to marry.”

In 2022, the birth rate in England and Wales dropped to the lowest on record – standing at 1.49 children per woman.