More than 315,000 babies born in Australia in 2021

New statistics reveal interesting trends about the average age of Australian mothers and those who are smoking while pregnant.

More than 315,000 babies were born in Australia in 2021 – the most babies ever born in one year.

It marks an increase of 20,000 births on the previous year, according to a new report from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.

The new data also confirms women are giving birth later in life and more than 90 per cent of these births bring healthy babies into the world.

One in four women who gave birth in 2021 were 35 years old or more.

The record for the most babies ever born in one year in Australia has been broken. Picture: Supplied

“The average maternal age continues to increase for first-time mothers and for those who have given birth previously,” AIHW spokesman Deanna Eldridge said.

The average age for first-time mothers is now inching closer to 30, while the average age for women having their second child is 32.

More than nine in 10 women aged 35 or older gave birth to babies born at-term and with a healthy birth weight of between 2.5kg and 4.49kg.

Another positive trend emerging from the data is the consistent decline in mothers smoking while pregnant.

The average age of women becoming first-time mothers is now just shy of 30. Picture: iStock

The rate of women smoking while pregnant continues on a downward trend. Picture: iStock

“We continue to see a consistent downward trend in the number of women who smoke while pregnant,” Ms Eldridge said.

“In 2021, 8.7 per cent of mothers reported smoking during their pregnancy – down from 13 per cent in 2011.”

One in five of those women quit smoking within the first 20 weeks.

The birthrate is now 61 births for every 1000 women. Picture: iStock

The 2021 birthrate was 61 births per 1000 women in their reproductive years (between 15 and 44 years old).

It doesn’t quite surpass the peak of 66 births per 1000 women in 2007.