The fertility rate of a country is the average number of children that women from that country will have throughout their reproductive years. In 1800, Australian women of childbearing age would go on to have approximately 6.5 children on average over the course of their lifetime, and this number decreased gradually to just below five in the early 1850s. Over the next ten years the fertility rate increased to 5.7 children per woman, as an influx of migrants arrived on the continent during the Australian gold rushes, however the fertility rate dropped from 1860 until 1935, when it was then just 2.2 children per woman, although there was a small baby boom after the First World War. Australia's fertility rate did rise during the global 'Baby Boom' after the Second World War, reaching 3.4 in the 1960s, but it then dropped to two children per woman in 1980, and it has plateaued just under this number until today.

In Australia, the crude birth rate in 1800 was 45 births per thousand people, meaning that 4.5 percent of the population had been born in that year. In the first half of the nineteenth century, Australia's crude birth rate decreased gradually, reaching just under 36 in 1850, however it then increased again over the next fifteen years, as the gold rushes brought many immigrants to the continent. After this, the crude birth rate dropped gradually until the Second World War, after the war Australia experienced another baby boom, reaching it's peak of 23 children per thousand in 1955. In the late 1970s the rate dropped rather sharply, falling from around twenty in 1970 to 15.8 in 1980, and since then the birth rate has decreased at a slower rate, and has fallen below thirteen births per thousand people in 2020.

Historical dataset showing Australia birth rate by year from 1950 to 2025.

In financial year 2023, there were just under 296 thousand babies born in Australia. This is one of the lowest birth rate years over the past decade, with most years the country seeing over 300 thousand new births.

Fertility rate in Australia Around 1.68 children were born per woman of childbearing age in Australia in 2022, which is one of the lowest fertility rate years ever recorded. Australia's fertility rate has been relatively stable over the past four decades, fluctuating between 1.7 and 2.0 births per woman. Moreover, Australia, like the majority of other developed nations, has been experiencing population ageing due to a declining fertility rate and increased longevity.

Life expectancy at birth In 2021, the life expectancy at birth in Australia remained virtually unchanged at approximately 83.3 years. Nonetheless, 2021 represents the peak of Australia's life expectancy. In Australia, females born in 2019 have a life expectancy of 85 years, while males born in 2019 have a life expectancy of 80.9 years. Male life expectancy at birth has increased by over four years in Australia since the year 2000, while female life expectancy has increased by three years.

In 2023, Australia's fertility rate reached its lowest ever figure, at fewer than 1.5 children born per women of childbearing age. In general, Australia’s fertility rate has been fairly consistent throughout the past four decades, fluctuating between 1.7 and two births per woman, however the recent drop in fertility may be a result of the Covid-19 pandemic - it remains to be seen what the full extent of the pandemic will be on demographic trends. Population aging in Australia Like most other developed nations, Australia has been experiencing population ageing, driven by declining fertility rate and increased longevity, with an average life expectancy at birth of 83 years in 2020. Amid the pandemic, Australia also witnessed a noticeable decrease in the number of births to approximately 294.4 thousand, the lowest value since 2011. “No kids attached” Childfree couples could become the norm in Australia, as couples living without children are expected to become Australia’s most common family type in a few years’ time. While many families may suffer from involuntary childlessness, other couples would opt for a childfree life for various reasons. Especially in times of COVID-19, couples might not want to risk having children with increasing job insecurity.

Graph and download economic data for Adolescent Fertility Rate for Australia (SPADOTFRTAUS) from 1960 to 2023 about 15 to 19 years, fertility, Australia, and rate.

Actual value and historical data chart for Australia Birth Rate Crude Per 1 000 People

This dataset is about countries per year in Australia. It has 64 rows. It features 4 columns: country, birth rate, and fertility rate.

Australia Fertility Rate: Total: Births per Woman data was reported at 1.500 Ratio in 2023. This records a decrease from the previous number of 1.630 Ratio for 2022. Australia Fertility Rate: Total: Births per Woman data is updated yearly, averaging 1.897 Ratio from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2023, with 64 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 3.540 Ratio in 1961 and a record low of 1.500 Ratio in 2023. Australia Fertility Rate: Total: Births per Woman data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Australia – Table AU.World Bank.WDI: Social: Health Statistics. Total fertility rate represents the number of children that would be born to a woman if she were to live to the end of her childbearing years and bear children in accordance with age-specific fertility rates of the specified year.;(1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects: 2024 Revision; (2) Statistical databases and publications from national statistical offices; (3) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics.;Weighted average;Relevance to gender indicator: it can indicate the status of women within households and a woman’s decision about the number and spacing of children.

This dataset contains statistics about births and fertility rates for Australia, states and territories, and sub-state regions. It includes all births that occurred and were registered in Australia, including births to mothers whose place of usual residence was overseas. Estimated resident populations (ERPs) are used as denominators to calculate fertility rates and are based on the results of the 2016 Census. This dataset uses the ABS Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2) boundaries of the Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS) 2016. For more information such as the scope, coverage and exclusions used in this dataset please visit the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) methodology documentation. AURIN has spatially enabled the original data from the ABS with the 2016 SA2 boundaries.

Australia Sex Ratio at Birth: Male Births per Female Births data was reported at 1.056 Ratio in 2023. This stayed constant from the previous number of 1.056 Ratio for 2022. Australia Sex Ratio at Birth: Male Births per Female Births data is updated yearly, averaging 1.056 Ratio from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2023, with 64 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1.060 Ratio in 2017 and a record low of 1.048 Ratio in 1971. Australia Sex Ratio at Birth: Male Births per Female Births data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Australia – Table AU.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Sex ratio at birth refers to male births per female births.;United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects: 2024 Revision.;Weighted average;

Historical dataset showing Australia fertility rate by year from 1950 to 2025.

In the Australian state of Queensland, about 1.64 children were born per woman in the period of 2022-2023. This figure represents a slight increase compared to the previous year.

Actual value and historical data chart for Australia Fertility Rate Total Births Per Woman

Yearly registered births – breakdown by Month

This scatter chart displays birth rate (per 1,000 people) against inflation (annual %) in Australia. The data is filtered where the date is 2021. The data is about countries per year.

Adolescent fertility rate (births per 1,000 women ages 15-19) in Australia was reported at 6.715 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Australia - Adolescent fertility rate (births per 1,000 women ages 15-19) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on November of 2025.

The average for 2022 based on 13 countries was 2.79 births per woman. The highest value was in Samoa: 3.88 births per woman and the lowest value was in Australia: 1.63 births per woman. The indicator is available from 1960 to 2023. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

This scatter chart displays birth rate (per 1,000 people) against access to electricity (% of population) in Australia. The data is filtered where the date is 2021. The data is about countries per year.

This scatter chart displays life expectancy at birth (year) against birth rate (per 1,000 people) in Australia. The data is about countries per year.