3301.0 - Births, Australia, 2017 Quality Declaration 
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 11/12/2018   
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FERTILITY RATES


In 2017, Australia's total fertility rate (TFR) was 1.74 babies per woman. Since 1976, the TFR for Australia has been below replacement level. The TFR required for replacement is currently considered to be around 2.1 babies per woman to replace herself and her partner. The TFR was 1.99 babies per woman in 2007, it then increased to a ten-year high of 2.02 babies per woman in 2008.

Graph Image for Total Fertility Rate, Australia - 1937 to 2017(a)

Footnote(s): (a) Births per woman

Source(s): Births, Australia



In recent decades, the average age of mothers has been increasing. In 2017, women aged 30-34 years have the highest fertility rate of 119 babies per 1,000 women. Conversely, the teenage fertility rate continued to decline. There were 10 babies per 1,000 women aged 15-19 years in 2017. For more information see the dataset Fertility, by age, by state from the Downloads tab.

Graph Image for Age-specific fertility rates, Selected age groups, Australia - 1937 to 2017(a)

Footnote(s): (a) Births per 1,000 women.

Source(s): Births, Australia