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Location: Home  »  Families and Children  » Women and Fertility

Women and Fertility

The Australian Bureau of Statistics publishes data on fertility in Births, Australia (Cat.No. 3301.0).

In 1901, the total fertility rate was close to four births per woman. In 2003, Australia's total fertility rate was 1.75 babies per woman.

The total fertility rate has varied substantially over the past 80 years, reflecting varying social and economic conditions. Particularly noticeable were the large drop in the fertility rate during the Great Depression, the very high rate in the 'baby boom' period following the end of the Second World War and the rapid decline in fertility during the 1960s and 1970s.

The late 1960s and early 1970s saw major changes in access to birth control and abortion (including the introduction of the oral contraceptive pill in the 1960s) and a dramatic increase in women's participation in the paid workforce.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics notes that current low level of fertility in Australia results from 'increasing proportions of women remaining childless and couples restricting their family size to one or two children.' These decisions undoubtedly reflect, as they probably always have, a variety of economic and social factors including the fact that couples are marrying later, having fewer children and later in life, or forgoing parenthood altogether.

This declining fertility rate and the consequent aging of the population has many implications for Australia.

The Australian Institute of Family Studies prepared a report for the Office for Women on people's aspirations, expectations and ideals on having children 'It's not for lack of wanting kids...' A report on the Fertility Decision Making Project.

The former Department of Family and Community Services published a paper which looks at the possible causes of low fertility - Low Fertility A Discussion Paper.