Australia’s fertility rate hit a record low in 2023 with only 286,998 births, the lowest since 2006. Despite calls from officials like Peter Costello in 2004 to boost birth rates, the trend has continued to decline, now at 1.5 births per woman.
Only Western Australia and Tasmania saw an increase in birth rates, while the average age for new mothers in 2023 was 31.9 and fathers was 33.8.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers acknowledged the financial challenges of raising children in Australia and emphasized the government’s commitment to making it easier for families to have more kids by addressing affordability issues.
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