Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception in Australia
Australia: Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception was 1.48 births per woman in 2024. ▼ Falling
Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception in Australia, 1960–2024
Source: United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in births per woman.
Analysis
Australia recorded 1.48 births per woman for fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 65 years on record.
The figure is down 1.2% on the previous year and down 18.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception in Australia peaked at 3.54 births per woman in 1961 and was at its lowest, 1.48 births per woman, in 2024.
Australia ranks 153rd of 215 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 65 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 3.14 births per woman | 2.85 births per woman | 3.54 births per woman | 10 |
| 1970s | 2.35 births per woman | 1.91 births per woman | 2.96 births per woman | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.88 births per woman | 1.83 births per woman | 1.94 births per woman | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.83 births per woman | 1.75 births per woman | 1.9 births per woman | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.84 births per woman | 1.74 births per woman | 1.98 births per woman | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.82 births per woman | 1.66 births per woman | 1.93 births per woman | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.58 births per woman | 1.48 births per woman | 1.7 births per woman | 5 |
Countries ranked near Australia
More population data for Australia
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.5% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 2.09 million people (2100)
- Population density 5.61 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth 0.5% (2100)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 1.48 births per woman (2024)
- Refugees by country of asylum 29,511 people (2024)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 1.48 births per woman (2024)
- Natural population growth rate 0.5% (2023)
- Fertility rate: births per woman 1.64 live births per woman (2023)
- Fertility rate vs. GDP per capita 1.64 live births per woman (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception in Australia?
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception in Australia was 1.48 births per woman in 2024, according to United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 3.54 births per woman in 1961.
- What is the lowest fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.48 births per woman in 2024.
- How does Australia rank for fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception?
- Australia ranks 153rd out of 215 countries with data for 2024.
- Is fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 18.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The total fertility rate, in a given year. The unmet need for contraception shows the estimated share of married fertile women of reproductive age who do not want to become pregnant and are not using contraception.