WA ‘doing the heavy lifting’ in Australia’s baby recession recovery

Western Australia is leading the nation’s “baby recession” recovery, recording the highest growth in birth rates between 2023 and 2024 out of any capital city.

Nearly 27,000 babies were born in Perth 2024 – a 5.7 per cent increase on the number born in 2023 – according to new data from KPMG.

Rawnsley said Perth was “doing the heavy lifting” in driving population growth. Credit: Shutterstock

Across the rest of WA it was a similar story, with the regions recording an 8 per cent increase.

Perth’s fertility rate also rebounded to 1.63 in 2024 – up from 1.58 in 2023 – again breaking the trend of continued decline in other cities.

Perth was also the only capital city to record growth when compared to the number of babies born in 2019 – all other capitals still recorded a decline.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ population clock, WA now records one birth every 16 minutes and 44 seconds.

KPMG urban economist Terry Rawnsley said Perth’s relatively strong fertility rate had been driven by the fact its housing market was still more affordable than the east-coast.

“Perth is absolutely doing the heavy lifting when it comes to driving Australia’s population growth,” Rawnsley said.

“Young families can find a decent-sized block much closer to the city than they can in Sydney or Melbourne for just a fraction of the price, making going west a smart move for those wanting the best of both worlds.”

The combined area of Armadale, Wungong and Brookdale recorded the highest number of births in 2024 at 486, followed by Byford at 463, Baldivis South at 407, Beechboro at 400 and Cannington and Queens Park at 382.

“In these family-oriented suburbs, the combination of housing affordability, larger properties, and family-friendly infrastructure helps to position them as Perth’s most family-friendly communities,” Rawnsley said.

Turning to the increase in the regions, which nationally was much higher than increases recorded in major cities, Rawnsley said it was again related to affordability.

“The strong birth rates outside the cities are in part a consequence of the great migration we saw during the pandemic which encouraged many Australians to leave city lockdowns for a better lifestyle in the regions,” he said.

“These regions are now feeling the long-term benefits of that migration as their relative affordability has allowed them to retain those people who have put down roots and are starting families.”

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