3301.0 - Births, Australia, 2009 Quality Declaration 
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 03/11/2010   
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MEDIA RELEASE
3 November, 2010
Embargo: 11.30 am (AEDT)
130/2010

Fertility rates decline in 2009

After increasing in recent years, fertility rates in Australia declined slightly in 2009, according to figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

In 2009, Australia's total fertility rate was 1.90 babies per woman, a small decrease from 1.96 babies per woman in 2008 and 1.92 babies per woman in 2007.

Fertility rates for all states and territories decreased in 2009, except for Queensland.

Tasmania had the highest fertility rate, with 2.18 babies per woman, while the Australian Capital Territory had the lowest at 1.74.

Women in Tasmania were also having their children at younger ages than women in the rest of Australia; with fertility rates highest for women aged 25-29 years. For the rest of Australia, fertility rates were highest for women aged 30-34 years.

The median age of all mothers for births registered in 2009 was 30.6 years, while the median age of fathers was 33.0 years, both slightly younger than in recent years.

A total of 295,700 births were registered in Australia in 2009. Of these, 15,800 births were registered where at least one parent was an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australian.

More details are available in Births, Australia, 2009 (cat. no. 3301.0). State and Territory information is also available. Regional figures are scheduled for release on 9 December 2010.

Media notes:
  • The total fertility rate represents the average number of babies that a woman could expect to bear during her reproductive lifetime if current fertility rates continue.
  • Please ensure when reporting on ABS data that you attribute the Australian Bureau of Statistics (or ABS) as the source.