Australian women over 40 are having more babies than ‘teen mums’ | Courier Mail
28th Apr 2025
The Australian birth rate has declined to its lowest level ever recorded but data shows an unexpected age group has had a spike in its fertility rate. For the first time in history, Australian women over 40 are having more babies than “teen mums”.
Data published by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) in its Australia’s mothers and babies report shows the proportion of teenage mums (aged under 20) has decreased over time, dropping from 3.8 per cent in 2010 compared to 1.6 per cent in 2022. Meanwhile, the proportion of mothers aged 40 and over has increased from 4.1 per cent in 2010 to 4.9 per cent in 2022.