Fertility rates decline
Total registered births increased by +1.94 per cent in 2018, to a record high 315,147, according to the ABS.
79 per cent were born to usual residents of New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland.
Source: ABS
Despite the record high number of births, fertility rates continued to fall to just 1.74 per woman, well down from the recent peak of 2.02 per woman in 2008.
Source: ABS
Labor's Kristina Keneally jumped on the figures as a government failing, with the baby boom having 'gone bust'.
But, of course, the fall was inevitable since teenage fertility rates have dropped so dramatically since 1998 (it’s also unlikely there’ll be an increase in the fertility rates of the rapidly growing number of Chinese-born parents, for that matter).
On average, Aussies are also doing most things later these days, including having kids.
But, of course, the fall was inevitable since teenage fertility rates have dropped so dramatically since 1998 (it’s also unlikely there’ll be an increase in the fertility rates of the rapidly growing number of Chinese-born parents, for that matter).
On average, Aussies are also doing most things later these days, including having kids.
The median age for mothers was 31.4 years, and for fathers it was 33.5 years, both of which were record highs.
Source: ABS
A relatively small share of births are to European-born parents, with Asian-born parents now dominating the statistics.
The statistics by mother's country of birth have long implied that families of Indian origin have a greater propensity for having children than those from China.
Both the fertility rate and the total number of births were considerably higher for mothers born in India (1.77 and 16,161) as compared to mothers born in China (1.21 and 9,871).
