STATES AND TERRITORIES


The number of births in 2013 decreased for most states and territories, with the exception of New South Wales, Western Australia and the Australian Capital Territory.

Births registered, States and Territories - 2012 and 2013
			Change
	2012	2013	2012-2013	2012-2013
	no.	no.	no.	%
New South Wales	98 508	100 462	1 954	2.0
Victoria	77 405	73 969	-3 436	-4.4
Queensland	63 837	63 354	-483	-0.8
South Australia	20 433	20 090	-343	-1.7
Western Australia	33 627	34 516	889	2.6
Tasmania	6 168	6 049	-119	-1.9
Northern Territory	4 104	4 053	-51	-1.2
Australian Capital Territory	5 461	5 545	84	1.5
Australia(a)	309 582	308 065	-1 517	-0.5
(a) Includes Other Territories.

The Australian Capital Territory recorded the oldest median ages of mothers and fathers (31.6 years and 33.8 years respectively), followed by Victoria (31.5 years for mothers and 33.6 years for fathers). The Northern Territory had the youngest mothers and fathers (29.0 years and 31.6 years respectively), followed by Tasmania (29.4 years for mothers and 31.7 years for fathers).

The total fertility rate (TFR) for New South Wales increased in 2013, while all the remaining states and territories recorded a decrease in TFR. In 2013, the Northern Territory recorded the highest TFR (2.12 babies per woman) and Victoria recorded the lowest (1.76 babies per woman). Victoria reported the largest decrease in the number of birth registrations from 2012 to 2013, decreasing by 4.4% from 2012. This decrease follows an unusually large number of birth registrations reported in Victoria in 2012.



Fertility rates were highest for women aged 30-34 years in all states and territories in 2013, with the exception of Tasmania, where women aged 25-29 years recorded the highest fertility rate. For more information see data cube Table 1: Births, Summary, States and territories - 2003 to 2013, from the Downloads tab.