BIRTHS BY REMOTENESS AREA
In 2010, 70% of births were registered to mothers who lived in major cities of Australia. A further 27% of births were to mothers in inner and outer regional areas, and 3% to mothers in remote and very remote areas. These proportions reflect the proportions of the Australian population living in these areas.
Major cities had the lowest total fertility rate (1.82 babies per woman, based on a three-year average ending in 2010), while remote and very remote areas had the highest (2.49 babies per woman). Furthermore, the median age of mother was highest in major cities (31.3 years), and lowest in remote and very remote areas (27.8 years). A data cube containing more detailed birth and fertility statistics by remoteness area has been released and is available for download from the ABS website (see Table 5: Births, Summary, Remoteness Areas, 2005 to 2010).