Australia's birth rate to fall to 1.34 children per woman by 2065
Government warns birth rate will plummet to 1.34 per woman by 2065. Australia must choose between more immigration or policy changes.
A new government report warns Australia's birth rate will fall to just 1.34 per woman by 2065. That is far below the 2.1 needed to replace the population without immigration.
Independent MP Bob Katter proposed $75,000 per child to reverse the decline. On Monday, Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Nationals leader Matt Canavan rejected a cash-only approach.
A smaller working-age population will struggle to support a growing elderly population. This creates a big budget problem.
However, demographers note that international students and temporary migrants skew the headline rate. Australian-born women have a fertility rate of 1.64.
That is still below replacement level but higher than the official figure.
- 1.34 children per woman
- Projected birth rate in 2065
- 2.1 children per woman
- Replacement rate needed
- $75,000 per child
- Katter's proposal
- 1.64 children per woman
- Australian-born women fertility
Why it mattersFewer working-age Australians supporting more retirees threatens the economy and welfare system. The country must decide between more immigration or boosting births.
AustraliaAustralia will need either significantly higher immigration or new family support policies to fund aged care and pensions as the workforce shrinks.
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 3 d ago
