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Historical series: the last available observation is 2024. This dataset does not describe current conditions.

Population & Demographics•Series ID: 11.TOT.AUS.A•1975–2024

Australian Total Fertility Rate - Historical Data

The Total Fertility Rate (TFR) represents the average number of children a woman would bear over her lifetime at current age-specific fertility rates.

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Current Statistics & Historical Records

Latest Reading (2024)
1.48
Prev (2023): 1.50-0.02
Highest Recorded (1975)
2.15

Recorded in 1975

Lowest Recorded (2024)
1.48

Recorded in 2024

Long-Run Mean (1975–2024)
1.84

50 annual observations · Annual

Australian Total Fertility Rate - Historical Series (1975–2024)

Babies per woman

Drag to pan, scroll to zoom, or toggle between full annual history (1975–2024) and recent annual releases.

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Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) (11.TOT.AUS.A) Latest: 1.48 Babies per woman (2024)

Australian Total Fertility Rate by Decade (1975–2024)

Decade averages, peaks, and troughs across Australian economic cycles

1970s1975–1979
2.02
High (1975):2.15
Low (1979):1.91
1980s1980–1989
1.88
High (1981):1.94
Low (1988):1.83
1990s1990–1999
1.83
High (1990):1.90
Low (1998):1.77
2000s2000–2009
1.85
High (2008):2.02
Low (2001):1.74
2010s2010–2019
1.82
High (2010):1.95
Low (2019):1.67
2020s2020–2024
1.58
High (2021):1.70
Low (2024):1.48

Australian Total Fertility Rate - Historical Table (1975–2024)

Unit: Babies per woman · Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) (11.TOT.AUS.A)

Download full CSV (50 rows) ↓
YearFertility Rate (Babies per woman)Year Range (Low – High)Historical Context / Year Snapshot
20241.481.48 The Australian Economy in 2024 →
20231.501.50 The Australian Economy in 2023 →
20221.631.63Post-pandemic inflation surge & rapid RBA tightening cycle
20211.701.70 The Australian Economy in 2021 →
20201.591.59COVID-19 pandemic shock & 0.10% cash rate floor
20191.671.67 The Australian Economy in 2019 →
20181.751.75 The Australian Economy in 2018 →
20171.741.74 The Australian Economy in 2017 →
20161.791.79 The Australian Economy in 2016 →
20151.801.80 The Australian Economy in 2015 →
20141.791.79 The Australian Economy in 2014 →
20131.881.88 The Australian Economy in 2013 →
20121.931.93 The Australian Economy in 2012 →
20111.921.92China mining investment & Terms of Trade supercycle peak
20101.951.95 The Australian Economy in 2010 →
20091.971.97 The Australian Economy in 2009 →
20082.022.02Global Financial Crisis (GFC) & emergency rate cuts
20071.991.99 The Australian Economy in 2007 →
20061.881.88 The Australian Economy in 2006 →
20051.851.85 The Australian Economy in 2005 →
20041.781.78 The Australian Economy in 2004 →
20031.761.76 The Australian Economy in 2003 →
20021.771.77 The Australian Economy in 2002 →
20011.741.74 The Australian Economy in 2001 →
20001.771.77Introduction of the 10% Goods and Services Tax (GST)
19991.771.77 The Australian Economy in 1999 →
19981.771.77 The Australian Economy in 1998 →
19971.791.79 The Australian Economy in 1997 →
19961.801.80 The Australian Economy in 1996 →
19951.831.83 The Australian Economy in 1995 →
19941.851.85 The Australian Economy in 1994 →
19931.861.86RBA formalises 2–3% inflation targeting
19921.891.89 The Australian Economy in 1992 →
19911.851.85Early 1990s recession ("The recession we had to have")
19901.901.90Monetary tightening peak (17.5% Cash Rate)
19891.841.84 The Australian Economy in 1989 →
19881.831.83 The Australian Economy in 1988 →
19871.841.84October 1987 sharemarket crash
19861.871.87 The Australian Economy in 1986 →
19851.921.92 The Australian Economy in 1985 →
19841.841.84 The Australian Economy in 1984 →
19831.921.92Float of the Australian Dollar & Prices and Incomes Accord
19821.931.93Early 1980s recession & drought
19811.941.94 The Australian Economy in 1981 →
19801.891.89 The Australian Economy in 1980 →
19791.911.91 The Australian Economy in 1979 →
19781.951.95 The Australian Economy in 1978 →
19772.012.01 The Australian Economy in 1977 →
19762.062.06 The Australian Economy in 1976 →
19752.152.15 The Australian Economy in 1975 →

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38.42025
 Compare Fertility Rate against another indicator →

Source Information & Methodology

Primary Institution:
Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS)
Dataset / Publication:
Births, Australia - Total Fertility Rate
Series / Table ID:
ABS Dataflow FERTILITY_AGE_STATE (11.TOT.AUS.A)
Release Frequency:
Annual
Licence:
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

• Primary source: Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) - Births, Australia - Total Fertility Rate (ABS Dataflow FERTILITY_AGE_STATE).

• Observation frequency: Annual. Annual table values represent calendar year-end observations.

• Series coverage spans 1975 to 2024 (50 annual observations).

APA Citation:Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2026). Births, Australia - Total Fertility Rate (Dataflow FERTILITY_AGE_STATE: 11.TOT.AUS.A). Retrieved October 2026 from https://data.api.abs.gov.au

Frequently Asked Questions: Australian Total Fertility Rate

What is the current Australian Total Fertility Rate?
As of 2024, the latest recorded Australian Total Fertility Rate is 1.48 (Babies per woman), compared with 1.5 in 2023.
What is the highest and lowest Australian Total Fertility Rate ever recorded in Australia?
Across the historical series (1975–2024), the highest observation was 2.15 (Babies per woman) in 1975, while the lowest was 1.48 (Babies per woman) in 2024. The long-run historical average is 1.84.
Where is the official Australian Total Fertility Rate data sourced from?
This series is compiled from Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) (Births, Australia - Total Fertility Rate, Series ID: 11.TOT.AUS.A) and is updated on a annual basis under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0).