Australia’s fertility rate has declined to its lowest level on record, according to the(ABS).
The fertility rate is an average estimate of how many children a woman will have in her life.
In 2023, there were 286,998 registered in Australia, “resulting in a total fertility rate of 1.5 babies per woman,” the ABS said. It’s the lowest rate since records began in 1935.
Experts say the cost of living and uncertainty about the future have created “insurmountable barriers for people to achieve their desired families.”
Fertility rate
The total fertility rate (TFR) peaked at 3.5 in 1961 and has been “slowly” declining since 1993 when it was 1.86, the ABS said.
The “age-specific” fertility rate of 15 to 19-year-olds has experienced the biggest decline since then, falling by more than two-thirds. A large decline has also been recorded among 20 to 24-year-olds.
However, the age-specific fertility rate of 40 to 44-year-olds has almost doubled since 1993. The median age of mothers who gave birth in 2023 was 31.9.
Concerns
ANU Demographer Dr Liz Allen has linked theto factors including the cost of living and climate crises.
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Allen told TDA in July that young people and women feel they can’t “morally and ethically [have] their desired family” because they’re uncertain about the future.
She added that Australians need an “established” career “to survive financially,” before having kids. “We are seeing the delaying of first birth to the point where the ability to have subsequent children is then reduced.”
Impact
Australia’s fertility rate has been below the ‘replacement level’ since the 70s.
“If we are above 2.1, we are exceeding replacement, the replacement of mum and dad, and that 0. 1 is to account for mortality,” Allen said.
“If we’re below that, the population by way of births is not replacing itself.”
Fewer births can impact the future workforce and lead to a weakened economy.
For example, with fewer people paying taxes, it’s more difficult for governments to pay for social services and infrastructure.
There are other routes of population replacement, such as migration. However, since 2022, the Government has reduced the number of visas it plans to approve each year from 195,000 to 185,000.
