3301.0 - Births, Australia, 2014 Quality Declaration 
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 29/10/2015   
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STATES AND TERRITORIES


New South Wales recorded the largest decrease (9.3%) in the number of births registered in 2014. See Explanatory Note 31 for this decrease. Excluding New South Wales, Tasmania recorded the largest decrease (1.9%) while the largest increase was recorded in Western Australia (2.6%).

Births registered, States and Territories - 2013 and 2014
2013
2014(b)
Change 2013-2014
no.
no.
no.
%
New South Wales
100 462
91 074
-9 388
-9.3
Victoria
73 969
74 224
255
0.3
Queensland
63 354
63 066
-288
-0.5
South Australia
20 090
20 384
294
1.5
Western Australia
34 516
35 403
887
2.6
Tasmania
6 049
5 935
-114
-1.9
Northern Territory
4 053
4 026
-27
-0.7
Australian Capital Territory
5 545
5 552
7
0.1
Australia(a)
308 065
299 697
-8 368
-2.7
(a) Includes Other Territories
(b) A new confidentiality method has been applied. See CHANGES IN THIS ISSUE (go to the Summary tab and then IN THIS ISSUE).


The Australian Capital Territory recorded the oldest median ages of mothers and fathers (31.6 years and 33.7 years respectively), followed by Victoria (31.5 years for mothers and 33.6 years for fathers). The Northern Territory had the youngest mothers and fathers (28.9 years and 31.6 years respectively), followed by Tasmania (29.6 years for mothers and 31.7 years for fathers).

The total fertility rate (TFR) decreased in all states and territories except South Australia. In 2014, the Northern Territory recorded the highest TFR (2.1 babies per woman) while New South Wales and Victoria recorded the lowest (1.73 babies per woman for both states). The 2014 TFR for Victoria is the lowest since 2004, when a TFR of 1.71 was recorded. The large decrease in births registered in New South Wales in 2014 accounts for the large decrease in TFR (from 1.94 babies per woman in 2013).

Graph Image for Total Fertility Rate (a), States and territories

Footnote(s): (a) Births per woman.

Source(s): Births, Australia



Fertility rates were highest for women aged 30-34 years in all states and territories in 2014, with the exception of Tasmania, where women aged 25-29 years recorded a slightly higher fertility rate. For more information see data cube Table 1: Births, Summary, States and territories - 2004 to 2014, from the Downloads tab.