The national birth rate has hit a record low and is now at a critical level, with economic consequences for the future.

There are warnings that Australia’s birth rate — having hit a record low — is now at a critical level.

Bureau of Statistics figures show 286,998 births were registered in Australia in 2023, resulting in a total fertility rate of 1.50 babies per woman.

Australian National University demographer Liz Allen said the nation’s birth rate is perilously low.

“We’ve hit rock bottom,” she said.

The Total Fertility Rate, or TFR, over the past 30 years has slowly dropped from 1.86 in 1993 to 1.5 in 2023.

The birth rate for girls and women aged 15 to 19 has fallen by more than two thirds over that period.

There’s also been a large decline for women aged 20 to 24 years.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-10-17/australia-birth-rate-hits-rock-bottom-economic-consequences/104480816?utm_medium=social&utm_content=sf275083821&utm_campaign=tw_abc_news&utm_source=t.co&sf275083821=1