• Summary
• Downloads
• Explanatory Notes
• Related Information
• Past Releases

MULTIPLE BIRTHS

The number of confinements resulting in a multiple birth has increased consistently since the 1970s. In 2009, there were 4,400 confinements resulting in a multiple birth; of these, 82 were triplets and 4 were quads or higher order. This was 27% higher than the number recorded in 1989 (3,200 confinements), but 3% lower than the number recorded in 2008 (4,600 confinements).

2.10 Multiple births, States and territories - 2009
	Single	Twins	Triplets and higher order	Total multiple births	Total confinements
State or territory of usual residence	no.	no.	no.	no.	no.
New South Wales	90 086	1 310	28	1 338	91 424
Victoria	68 591	1 133	21	1 154	69 745
Queensland	64 028	1 014	19	1 033	65 061
South Australia	19 158	283	4	287	19 445
Western Australia	29 999	435	8	443	30 442
Tasmania	6 488	59	3	62	6 550
Northern Territory	3 712	np	np	53	3 765
Australian Capital Territory	4 711	np	np	74	4 785
Australia(a)	286 796	4 358	86	4 444	291 240
np not available for publication but included in totals where applicable, unless otherwise indicated
(a) Includes Other Territories.