Particle.news
Download on the App Store
4 ARTICLES
·
6h ago

Australia’s Fertility Rate Hits Record Low in 2024, ABS Data Show

Rising costs and childcare pressures are pushing parenthood later and shrinking family size.

Image
Image
Image
Australia's birth rate is declining — but researchers say it's "not about selfishness".

Overview

  • ABS figures report 292,318 births in 2024, up 1.9% on 2023, even as the total fertility rate fell to 1.48 births per woman.
  • Median ages rose to 32.1 for mothers and 33.9 for fathers, extending a decade-long shift toward older parenthood.
  • The ACT recorded a nation-low fertility rate of 1.27, NSW’s registered births fell to a 20-year low, WA dropped 4.7%, and Victoria’s 12.9% rise reflected faster registration processing rather than a genuine surge.
  • Researchers highlight later parenthood, smaller families and more people remaining childless as key drivers, with costs, career impacts and childcare access weighing heavily on decisions.
  • With fertility well below the 2.1 replacement rate, population growth is leaning more on migration, which totaled 341,000 in 2024 after a recent peak.