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MULTIPLE BIRTHS

The number of confinements resulting in a multiple birth has increased consistently since the 1970s. In 2010, there were 4,500 confinements resulting in a multiple birth; of these, 65 were triplets and 4 were quads or higher order. This was 43% higher than the number recorded in 1990 (3,200 confinements), and 2% higher than the number recorded in 2009 (4,400 confinements).

2.9 Multiple births, States and territories - 2010
	Single	Twins	Triplets and higher order	Total multiple confinements	Total confinements
State or territory of usual residence	no.	no.	no.	no.	no.
New South Wales	93 048	1 398	26	1 424	94 472
Victoria	68 299	1 109	19	1 128	69 427
Queensland	62 462	988	14	1 002	63 464
South Australia	19 437	np	np	317	19 754
Western Australia	30 581	422	4	426	31 007
Tasmania	6 185	93	-	93	6 278
Northern Territory	3 787	55	-	55	3 842
Australian Capital Territory	4 985	np	np	82	5 067
Australia(a)	288 801	4 458	69	4 527	293 328
- nil or rounded to zero (including null cells)
np not available for publication but included in totals where applicable, unless otherwise indicated
(a) Includes Other Territories.