Australia birth & fertility rate decline on charts

Australia has a birth rate of 10.8 (annual births per 1,000 people) and a fertility rate of 1.5 (the average number of children a woman is expected to have over her lifetime based on current age-specific birth rates).

In 1960, the fertility rate in Australia was 3.45 children per woman — 2.3 times higher than in 2023.

Australia birth rate statistics:

Australia is ranked 136/196 by birth rate now and was ranked 161/194 in 1960.
The mean age at first birth in Australia is 28.7 — it was 28.7 in 2017.
The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 31.6, a change from 28.3 in 1990.
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) changed from 43.1 in 1960 to 6.72 in 2023.
23.1% of the population in 2024 is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), a change from 23.1% in 1960.

Fertility rate in Australia by year

1x

Year	Fertility rate	Rank
2023	1.5	143
2022	1.63	128
2021	1.7	128
2020	1.58	142
2019	1.66	138
2018	1.74	128
2017	1.74	134
2016	1.75	135
2015	1.81	132
2014	1.83	132
2013	1.86	134
2012	1.92	129
2011	1.93	129
2010	1.93	131
2009	1.97	131
2008	1.98	127
2007	1.96	130
2006	1.91	135
2005	1.81	142
2004	1.77	148
2003	1.75	150
2002	1.76	147
2001	1.74	148
2000	1.76	150
1999	1.76	150
1998	1.76	151
1997	1.78	152
1996	1.8	151
1995	1.82	150
1994	1.84	152
1993	1.86	155
1992	1.89	155
1991	1.85	160
1990	1.9	161
1989	1.84	166
1988	1.83	169
1987	1.85	165
1986	1.87	164
1985	1.92	164
1984	1.84	167
1983	1.92	165
1982	1.93	169
1981	1.94	166
1980	1.89	171
1979	1.91	170
1978	1.95	170
1977	2.01	171
1976	2.06	172
1975	2.15	170
1974	2.4	160
1973	2.49	159
1972	2.74	155
1971	2.96	150
1970	2.86	152
1969	2.89	154
1968	2.89	154
1967	2.85	156
1966	2.88	157
1965	2.98	156
1964	3.15	156
1963	3.33	153
1962	3.44	153
1961	3.54	152
1960	3.45	154

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/australia | CC BY

According to the latest birth rate data available, the fertility rate in Australia was 1.5 in 2023 and has been below the replacement level of 2.1 children per woman since 1976. In 1993, the fertility rate was 1.86 — a 19.3% decline in 30 years.

Check population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

The chart above shows the historical changes in fertility rate and ranking compared to other countries, where a lower rank number indicates a higher relative fertility rate.

Births, deaths, and natural population change by year

1x

Year	People
Year	Natural change	Births	Deaths
2023	103,974	287,927	183,953
2022	111,881	301,817	189,936
2021	138,701	310,793	172,092
2020	133,376	294,966	161,590
2019	136,808	306,551	169,743
2018	157,269	314,537	157,268
2017	150,015	309,866	159,851
2016	152,403	312,062	159,659
2015	150,041	307,226	157,185
2014	154,940	309,879	154,939
2013	159,584	307,604	148,020
2012	161,408	311,448	150,040
2011	156,380	303,824	147,444
2010	158,628	301,834	143,206
2009	160,518	301,513	140,995
2008	155,119	297,488	142,369
2007	154,124	293,669	139,545
2006	132,931	263,817	130,886
2005	129,132	258,263	129,131
2004	115,610	245,172	129,562
2003	118,325	248,481	130,156
2002	116,971	249,538	132,567
2001	117,575	244,788	127,213
2000	119,882	247,374	127,492
1999	118,517	246,440	127,923
1998	120,949	247,480	126,531
1997	121,592	250,553	128,961
1996	125,751	253,324	127,573
1995	131,436	255,669	124,233
1994	131,761	258,179	126,418
1993	137,551	259,231	121,680
1992	139,829	263,927	124,098
1991	138,273	257,532	119,259
1990	143,347	262,802	119,455
1989	127,789	250,534	122,745
1988	127,298	246,329	119,031
1987	128,484	250,463	121,979
1986	123,342	240,275	116,933
1985	143,674	247,876	104,202
1984	123,077	233,690	110,613
1983	130,844	243,216	112,372
1982	126,030	239,911	113,881
1981	125,356	234,295	108,939
1980	117,536	224,787	107,251
1979	116,112	222,064	105,952
1978	116,299	223,984	107,685
1977	117,793	225,652	107,859
1976	115,070	227,334	112,264
1975	123,648	232,013	108,365
1974	128,996	244,269	115,273
1973	136,476	247,530	111,054
1972	155,488	264,857	109,369
1971	165,593	276,851	111,258
1970	145,081	257,644	112,563
1969	143,477	250,165	106,688
1968	132,099	241,380	109,281
1967	126,249	228,900	102,651
1966	126,996	230,689	103,693
1965	122,990	223,204	100,214
1964	128,420	228,923	100,503
1963	140,161	235,425	95,264
1962	143,943	237,398	93,455
1961	150,955	240,060	89,105
1960	141,816	230,193	88,377

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/australia | CC BY

Over the past 10 years, the natural population change in Australia (from births and deaths only, excluding migration) has been +0.56% annually. On average, 138,940 more people were born each year than died.

Excluding migration, the natural population change due to births and deaths from 2022 to 2023 was 0.39% — 103,974 more people were born than died.

In 2023, Australia ranks 77/196 for absolute natural population change and 125/196 for natural change rate, where a lower rank number indicates faster natural growth and a higher number indicates greater decline.

Birth rates in Australia compared to other countries

	Australia	Rank
Fertility rate	1.5	143/196
Birth rate	10.8	136/196
Population change due to births and deaths	+103,974	77/196
Natural population change rate	+0.39%	125/196
Population growth	+2.01%	51/197
Age at first childbirth	28.7 years	34/137
Average age at childbearing	31.6 years	28/197
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19	6.04	154/197
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29	59.2	160/197
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+	22.6	100/197
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population	23.1%	134/196
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49	64.7%	33/179
Share of births attended by skilled health staff	96%	116/191
Maternal mortality per live birth	0.002%	189/193
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age)	0.23%	162/193
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age)	0.31%	168/196
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age	0.37%	163/192
Life expectancy	84.3 years	7/197

Birth rates by women's age

Annual births per 1,000 women

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 women
Year	Total	15-19	20-29	30+
2026	21.7	6.04	59.2	22.6
2025	22	6.24	59.9	22.8
2024	22.3	6.47	60.6	23
2023	22.7	6.77	61.1	23
2022	23.1	6.81	61	23.1
2021	23.5	7.12	61	23.4
2020	22.8	7.69	59.5	22.6
2019	23.9	8.68	62.8	23.5
2018	25	9.64	66.5	24.2
2017	24.9	10.1	67	24
2016	25.4	10.8	69.4	24.3
2015	25.5	11.9	71.5	23.8
2014	25.4	13	72.3	23.4
2013	26.4	14.6	75.8	24.1
2012	27	15.9	78.3	24.4
2011	26.9	16.2	78.4	24.1
2010	27.2	16.9	80	24.4
2009	27.5	17.7	81.6	24.7
2008	28.1	18.1	84	25.3
2007	27.7	17.1	83.6	25.1
2006	26.4	16.1	79	24.1
2005	26.1	16.5	79.4	23.6
2004	25.4	16.1	77.9	22.9
2003	25.3	16.3	79	22.5
2002	25.5	17.2	81.1	22.2
2001	25.3	17.6	82.1	21.5
2000	26	17.9	84.7	21.7
1999	26.3	18.5	86.2	21.5
1998	26.6	18.9	87.4	21.4
1997	27.2	19.6	89.2	21.6
1996	27.7	20.1	91.6	21.7
1995	28.3	20.4	94	22
1994	29	20.8	97.3	22
1993	29.5	21	99.6	22
1992	30.2	22	103.2	21.9
1991	29.9	21.9	104	21.1
1990	30.7	22.1	109.1	21
1989	29.7	20.7	107.8	19.8
1988	29.7	20.3	110	19.1
1987	30	20.7	112.8	18.5
1986	30.3	21.7	115.9	18.1
1985	30.9	22.7	118.9	17.9
1984	30.5	23.6	119	17
1983	31.5	26.4	123.9	17
1982	31.6	27.5	124.8	16.9
1981	31.5	28.2	126.3	16.3
1980	30.7	27.7	124.4	15.6
1979	30.7	28.5	126.1	15.2
1978	31.3	30.1	130.3	15
1977	32	32.3	134	14.7
1976	32.5	35.2	137.4	14.2
1975	34.5	40.8	146.6	14.7
1974	36.6	45.2	157.2	15.6
1973	38.4	48.9	163.3	16.4
1972	41.6	54.1	177.6	18.4
1971	43.5	55.6	190	20.1
1970	41.3	50.9	183	20
1969	40.9	49.2	184.5	20.2
1968	40.1	48.8	183.4	20.4
1967	38.8	48	180.1	20.5
1966	38.3	48.3	180.8	21.3
1965	39.1	47.6	185.6	22.6
1964	40.7	46.2	195.9	24.8
1963	42.8	45.3	210	26.5
1962	43.9	44.8	216.4	27.8
1961	45.7	46.3	223.4	29.4
1960	44.7	44.2	216.7	29.2

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/australia | CC BY

Above is a chart displaying birth rates in Australia by maternal age. In 2026, of all live births, 1.62% will be to women under age 20, 32.6% to women ages 20-29, and 65.8% to women ages 30 and above. The respective shares in 1990 were 5.82%, 57.2%, and 37%.

Children 0-14 years as share of population by year

1x

Year	Children 0-14 as share of population
Year	Australia	World
2100	14.8%	16.5%
2099	14.8%	16.6%
2098	14.8%	16.6%
2097	14.9%	16.7%
2096	14.9%	16.8%
2095	14.9%	16.8%
2094	14.9%	16.9%
2093	15%	17%
2092	15%	17%
2091	15%	17.1%
2090	15%	17.2%
2089	15%	17.2%
2088	15%	17.3%
2087	15%	17.4%
2086	15.1%	17.4%
2085	15.1%	17.5%
2084	15.1%	17.5%
2083	15.1%	17.6%
2082	15%	17.7%
2081	15%	17.7%
2080	15%	17.8%
2079	15%	17.8%
2078	15%	17.9%
2077	15%	17.9%
2076	15%	18%
2075	15.1%	18%
2074	15.1%	18.1%
2073	15.1%	18.2%
2072	15.1%	18.2%
2071	15.1%	18.3%
2070	15.1%	18.3%
2069	15.2%	18.4%
2068	15.2%	18.5%
2067	15.2%	18.6%
2066	15.3%	18.6%
2065	15.3%	18.7%
2064	15.4%	18.8%
2063	15.4%	18.9%
2062	15.4%	19.1%
2061	15.5%	19.2%
2060	15.5%	19.3%
2059	15.6%	19.4%
2058	15.6%	19.5%
2057	15.6%	19.6%
2056	15.7%	19.8%
2055	15.7%	19.9%
2054	15.7%	20%
2053	15.7%	20.1%
2052	15.7%	20.2%
2051	15.7%	20.3%
2050	15.7%	20.4%
2049	15.7%	20.5%
2048	15.7%	20.6%
2047	15.7%	20.7%
2046	15.7%	20.8%
2045	15.7%	20.9%
2044	15.7%	20.9%
2043	15.7%	21%
2042	15.8%	21.1%
2041	15.8%	21.2%
2040	15.9%	21.2%
2039	16%	21.3%
2038	16.1%	21.4%
2037	16.2%	21.5%
2036	16.3%	21.6%
2035	16.3%	21.8%
2034	16.4%	22%
2033	16.5%	22.2%
2032	16.7%	22.4%
2031	16.8%	22.7%
2030	17%	23%
2029	17.1%	23.3%
2028	17.3%	23.6%
2027	17.4%	23.9%
2026	17.6%	24.2%
2025	17.8%	24.6%
2024	17.8%	24.7%
2023	18%	25%
2022	18.2%	25.3%
2021	18.4%	25.6%
2020	18.6%	25.8%
2019	18.7%	26%
2018	18.8%	26.2%
2017	18.8%	26.4%
2016	18.9%	26.5%
2015	18.9%	26.6%
2014	18.9%	26.8%
2013	18.9%	26.9%
2012	18.9%	27%
2011	19%	27.1%
2010	19.1%	27.3%
2009	19.2%	27.5%
2008	19.3%	27.6%
2007	19.4%	27.9%
2006	19.6%	28.1%
2005	19.8%	28.5%
2004	20%	28.8%
2003	20.2%	29.2%
2002	20.4%	29.6%
2001	20.6%	30%
2000	20.8%	30.4%
1999	20.9%	30.8%
1998	21.1%	31.1%
1997	21.2%	31.5%
1996	21.4%	31.8%
1995	21.5%	32.1%
1994	21.7%	32.3%
1993	21.7%	32.5%
1992	21.8%	32.7%
1991	21.9%	32.9%
1990	22%	33%
1989	22.2%	33.2%
1988	22.4%	33.4%
1987	22.7%	33.6%
1986	23.1%	33.8%
1985	23.6%	34%
1984	24%	34.3%
1983	24.4%	34.6%
1982	24.7%	34.9%
1981	25%	35.2%
1980	25.3%	35.5%
1979	25.6%	35.9%
1978	26.1%	36.3%
1977	26.5%	36.7%
1976	27%	36.9%
1975	27.5%	37.1%
1974	27.9%	37.2%
1973	28.2%	37.3%
1972	28.5%	37.5%
1971	28.7%	37.6%
1970	28.8%	37.7%
1969	28.9%	37.8%
1968	29.1%	37.9%
1967	29.3%	38%
1966	29.5%	38%
1965	29.6%	38%
1964	29.8%	38%
1963	29.9%	37.8%
1962	30.1%	37.6%
1961	30.2%	37.5%
1960	30.2%	37.4%

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/australia | CC BY

The share of children aged 0-14 in Australia was 30.2% in 1960, 21.8% in 1992, and 17.8% as of the latest data in 2024.

More about the demographics of Australia.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/australia | CC BY

Maternal mortality by year

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
2023	2	197
2022	4	203
2021	4	242
2020	5	211
2019	5	207
2018	5	211
2017	6	215
2016	6	220
2015	6	228
2014	6	231
2013	6	235
2012	6	239
2011	6	247
2010	5	253
2009	5	258
2008	5	264
2007	5	269
2006	5	276
2005	5	283
2004	5	291
2003	5	301
2002	6	311
2001	6	321
2000	7	328
1999	7	340
1998	7	360
1997	8	358
1996	8	366
1995	9	371
1994	9	382
1993	9	389
1992	9	395
1991	9	395
1990	9	391
1989	9	401
1988	9	414
1987	9	429
1986	8	438
1985	9	460

Data sources: World Bank | Gender (1985–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/australia | CC BY

The maternal mortality rate in Australia was 2 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2023 — a 0.002% chance of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination. This is a 71.4% decrease compared to the year 2000.

Under-five mortality by year

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
Year	Australia	World
2023	0.37%	2.49%
2022	0.37%	2.59%
2021	0.37%	2.66%
2020	0.38%	2.75%
2019	0.38%	2.86%
2018	0.38%	2.97%
2017	0.38%	3.11%
2016	0.38%	3.22%
2015	0.39%	3.35%
2014	0.4%	3.48%
2013	0.41%	3.61%
2012	0.43%	3.77%
2011	0.45%	3.97%
2010	0.48%	4.11%
2009	0.5%	4.31%
2008	0.52%	4.5%
2007	0.54%	4.7%
2006	0.56%	4.92%
2005	0.57%	5.16%
2004	0.58%	5.43%
2003	0.59%	5.65%
2002	0.6%	5.94%
2001	0.61%	6.21%
2000	0.62%	6.48%
1999	0.63%	6.75%
1998	0.64%	7.05%
1997	0.66%	7.28%
1996	0.68%	7.52%
1995	0.7%	7.76%
1994	0.73%	7.98%
1993	0.77%	8.19%
1992	0.82%	8.46%
1991	0.87%	8.66%
1990	0.92%	8.81%
1989	0.97%	9.02%
1988	1.02%	9.31%
1987	1.06%	9.47%
1986	1.1%	9.81%
1985	1.13%	10.1%
1984	1.16%	10.4%
1983	1.19%	10.6%
1982	1.22%	10.8%
1981	1.26%	11%
1980	1.3%	11.4%
1979	1.36%	11.7%
1978	1.44%	12.2%
1977	1.52%	12.6%
1976	1.62%	13%
1975	1.73%	13.4%
1974	1.84%	13.8%
1973	1.94%	14.1%
1972	2.03%	14.5%
1971	2.1%	15.1%
1970	2.15%	15.2%
1969	2.18%	15.4%
1968	2.19%	15.6%
1967	2.2%	15.9%
1966	2.21%	16.1%
1965	2.24%	16.4%
1964	2.27%	16.6%
1963	2.32%	16.5%
1962	2.37%	16.7%
1961	2.43%	17%
1960	2.49%	17.2%

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/australia | CC BY

The under-5 mortality rate in Australia was 3.7 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2023 — a 0.37% chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five. This is down from 6.2 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2000.