The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) yesterday released data on Australian births, which revealed that the fertility rate has fallen to decade lows just as the average age of new mothers has hit an all-time high.
According to the ABS, the average number of babies Australian women are having fell to 1.80 in 2014, down from the 2013 total fertility rate (TFR) of 1.88 babies per woman in 2013, and the lowest level recorded since 2004 when it was 1.78 (see next chart).
The decline in the TFR has occurred across all states and territories, except the ACT (see next chart).
Fertility rates decreased across all age groups in 2014, except women aged 45-49 years, which registered a small rise. Fertility rates remained highest for women aged 30-34 years, recording 120 babies per 1,000 women, down from 125 babies per 1,000 women in 2014 (see next chart).
Women in inner city areas typically have the lowest fertility, whereas the “baby boom” areas are all outside the main centres (see below charts).
Meanwhile, the median age of mothers in Australia hit a record high 30.9 years in 2014, whereas it was 33.0 years for men, fractionally below the record high 33.1 years of age recorded in 2010 (see next chart).
Finally, after strong growth between 2003 and 2008, the number of births registered in Australia dipped to 299,697 in 2014, the lowest level recorded since 2007 (see next chart).
So, while the Federal Government continues to run a ponzi-style immigration policy, Australians are voting with their tummies for a “smaller Australia”.
