The median age of both mothers and fathers rose again in 2024, according to data released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
Beidar Cho, ABS head of demography, said: 'In 2024, the median age of mothers was 32.1 and fathers was 33.9, showing a slow but steady increase over the last decade.
'Since 2014, the median age of mothers increased 1.2 years, while fathers increased 0.9 years.
'But in the decade before 2014, the median age of mothers and fathers only rose by 0.3 years for mothers and 0.2 years for fathers.
'This shift toward older parenthood reflects broader social changes and economic shifts. This includes things like more time spent in education such as university and TAFE and higher workforce participation by women. It also shows evolving patterns in how and when people choose to start families compared to previous generations.'
| Year | Median age of mother | Median age of father(a) |
|---|---|---|
| 1924 | 28.9 | |
| 1925 | 28.8 | |
| 1926 | 28.7 | |
| 1927 | 28.6 | |
| 1928 | 28.4 | |
| 1929 | 28.4 | |
| 1930 | 28.3 | |
| 1931 | 28.1 | |
| 1932 | 28.0 | |
| 1933 | 28.0 | |
| 1934 | 27.9 | |
| 1935 | 27.7 | |
| 1936 | 27.7 | |
| 1937 | 27.6 | |
| 1938 | 27.6 | |
| 1939 | 27.6 | |
| 1940 | 27.6 | |
| 1941 | 27.5 | |
| 1942 | 27.7 | |
| 1943 | 27.7 | |
| 1944 | 28.2 | |
| 1945 | 28.2 | |
| 1946 | 27.9 | |
| 1947 | 27.5 | |
| 1948 | 27.5 | |
| 1949 | 27.4 | |
| 1950 | 27.4 | |
| 1951 | 27.3 | |
| 1952 | 27.3 | |
| 1953 | 27.4 | |
| 1954 | 27.4 | |
| 1955 | 27.3 | |
| 1956 | 27.3 | |
| 1957 | 27.2 | |
| 1958 | 27.2 | |
| 1959 | 27.0 | |
| 1960 | 26.8 | |
| 1961 | 26.6 | |
| 1962 | 26.5 | |
| 1963 | 26.4 | |
| 1964 | 26.3 | |
| 1965 | 26.1 | |
| 1966 | 25.9 | |
| 1967 | 25.7 | |
| 1968 | 25.6 | |
| 1969 | 25.6 | |
| 1970 | 25.6 | |
| 1971 | 25.4 | |
| 1972 | 25.5 | |
| 1973 | 25.6 | |
| 1974 | 25.7 | |
| 1975 | 25.8 | 28.6 |
| 1976 | 25.9 | 28.7 |
| 1977 | 26.1 | 29.0 |
| 1978 | 26.3 | 29.2 |
| 1979 | 26.5 | 29.3 |
| 1980 | 26.6 | 29.4 |
| 1981 | 26.7 | 29.6 |
| 1982 | 26.8 | 29.7 |
| 1983 | 26.9 | 29.7 |
| 1984 | 27.1 | 29.9 |
| 1985 | 27.3 | 30.1 |
| 1986 | 27.5 | 30.2 |
| 1987 | 27.7 | 30.4 |
| 1988 | 27.9 | 30.6 |
| 1989 | 28.2 | 30.8 |
| 1990 | 28.3 | 30.9 |
| 1991 | 28.5 | 31.0 |
| 1992 | 28.7 | 31.2 |
| 1993 | 28.9 | 31.4 |
| 1994 | 29.0 | 31.6 |
| 1995 | 29.1 | 31.7 |
| 1996 | 29.2 | 31.9 |
| 1997 | 29.4 | 32.0 |
| 1998 | 29.5 | 32.0 |
| 1999 | 29.7 | 32.1 |
| 2000 | 29.8 | 32.2 |
| 2001 | 30.0 | 32.3 |
| 2002 | 30.2 | 32.5 |
| 2003 | 30.5 | 32.6 |
| 2004 | 30.6 | 32.8 |
| 2005 | 30.7 | 32.9 |
| 2006 | 30.8 | 33.0 |
| 2007 | 30.7 | 33.0 |
| 2008 | 30.7 | 33.1 |
| 2009 | 30.6 | 33.0 |
| 2010 | 30.6 | 33.1 |
| 2011 | 30.6 | 33.0 |
| 2012 | 30.7 | 33.0 |
| 2013 | 30.8 | 33.0 |
| 2014 | 30.9 | 33.0 |
| 2015 | 31.0 | 33.1 |
| 2016 | 31.2 | 33.3 |
| 2017 | 31.3 | 33.3 |
| 2018 | 31.4 | 33.5 |
| 2019 | 31.5 | 33.5 |
| 2020 | 31.6 | 33.6 |
| 2021 | 31.7 | 33.7 |
| 2022 | 31.9 | 33.7 |
| 2023 | 31.9 | 33.8 |
| 2024 | 32.1 | 33.9 |
- Not available for 1974 and earlier years.
Registered births in Australia rose to 292,318 in 2024, up 5,320 births or 1.9 per cent.
