STATES AND TERRITORIES

Total fertility rate

Total fertility rates (TFRs) for Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women vary among the states and territories. In 2010, New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory recorded increases in the TFR for Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women from the previous year, whereas Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia recorded decreases. Of all the states and territories, Queensland recorded the highest TFR (3.17 babies per woman), followed by Western Australia (2.84 babies per woman).

In 2010, the TFR for Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women was higher than the TFR for all women in all states and territories with the exception of Tasmania.

Age-specific fertility rates

In 2010, Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women aged 20-24 years recorded the highest fertility rate of all age groups in all states and territories, except in Victoria. The highest fertility rates recorded for this age group were in Queensland (183 babies per 1,000 women), followed by South Australia and Western Australia (both 163 babies per 1,000 women).

Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women aged 25-29 years recorded the highest fertility rate in Victoria (116 babies per 1,000 women), and the second highest fertility rate in all other states and territories.

Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander teenage fertility rates

Of the 11,300 births registered to teenage women in Australia in 2010, 21% (2,400 births) were to Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women. Of the 390 births registered to teenage women in the Northern Territory in 2010, 82% (320 births) were to Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women.

Of the states and territories, Western Australia recorded the highest teenage fertility rate for Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women (103 babies per 1,000 women), more than five times the rate of all teenage women in Western Australia (19 babies per 1,000 women). The second highest Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander teenage fertility rate was recorded in Queensland (95 babies per 1,000 women), followed by the Northern Territory (91 babies per 1,000 women).

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