3301.0 - Births, Australia, 2012 Quality Declaration 
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 24/10/2013   
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STATES AND TERRITORIES


The number of births in 2012 increased for most states and territories, with the exception of New South Wales and Tasmania.

Births Registered, States and territories - 2011 and 2012
Change
2011
2012
2011-2012
2011-2012
no.
no.
no.
%
New South Wales
99 054
98 508
-546
-0.6
Victoria
71 444
77 405
5 961
8.3
Queensland
63 253
63 837
584
0.9
South Australia
19 892
20 433
541
2.7
Western Australia
32 259
33 627
1 368
4.2
Tasmania
6 608
6 168
-440
-6.7
Northern Territory
3 954
4 104
150
3.8
Australian Capital Territory
5 121
5 461
340
6.6
Australia(a)
301 617
309 582
7 965
2.6
(a) Includes Other Territories.


Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory recorded the oldest median ages of mothers and fathers (for mothers both were 31.3 years, for fathers 33.5 years and 33.4 years respectively). The Northern Territory had the youngest mothers and fathers (28.6 years and 31.4 years), followed by Tasmania (29.5 years and 31.8 years).

Total fertility rates (TFRs) for Victoria, South Australia, Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory increased in 2012. The remaining states all recorded a decrease in TFR. In 2012, the Northern Territory recorded the highest TFR (2.21 babies per woman) and the Australian Capital Territory recorded the lowest (1.79 babies per woman).

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

Footnote(s): (a) Births per woman. (b) All rates for the period 1992 to 2011 have been revised to reflect revisions in the Estimated Resident Population (ERP) due to rebasing and recasting following the 2011 Census. Data have been revised to include previously unprocessed NSW birth registrations for the period 2005 to 2010. For further information select In this issue then Changes in this issue from the Summary web page of this release.

Source(s): Births, Australia



Fertility rates were highest for women aged 30-34 years in all states and territories in 2012, with the exception of Tasmania, where women aged 25-29 years recorded the highest fertility rate. For more information see data cube Table 1: Births, Summary, States and territories - 2002 to 2012.