The latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics has revealed that the nation’s birth rate has reached a record low, with just 286,998 births registered in 2023 and a current overall fertility rate of just 1.50 babies per woman.
Demographer Liz Allen, from the Australian National University, warned that the nation is nearing a critical threshold, where reversing this decline will become increasingly difficult.
Fertility rates for younger women have plummeted, while the birth rate for women aged 40-44 has nearly doubled in the past 30 years.
Dr Allen attributed this drop to an “attitudinal problem” in younger people, noting their views on economic insecurity, housing affordability and climate change.
Urban economist Terry Rawnsley also highlighted the economic risks of slipping below a total fertility rate of 1.5, which could lead to population decline and reduced economic activity.
Both experts have called for urgent conversations and policies to address these issues.