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2-2. Maternal age

2-2-1. Maternal age in South Australia

2-2-2. Aboriginal maternal age

2-2-3. Teenage women giving birth

2-2-4. Aboriginal teenage women giving birth

2-2-5. Women aged 35 years and over giving birth

2-2-6. Aboriginal women aged 35 years and over giving birth

Sources

 

2-2-1. Maternal age in South Australia

  • The median age at which women in South Australia gave birth was 30.9 years in 2017.1
  • This is only slightly younger than the national median of 31.2 years.1
  • In 2017, the median maternal age in South Australia was higher in Greater Adelaide (31.3 years) compared to Country SA (29.2 years).1
  • No statistically significant underlying trend over the last decade was identified in either the Greater Adelaide or Country SA time series.
  • South Australia's median maternal age is ranked equal fourth lowest compared to the other states and territories.

 

Median maternal age, 2017
Region Years
Greater Adelaide 31.3
Country SA 29.2
South Australia 30.9
Australia 31.2

2 2 1 sa 2019 10 01

Data source: ABS 2018a

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Median maternal age, 2017
State/Territory Years
Northern Territory 29.6
Tasmania 30.0
Queensland 30.4
South Australia 30.9
Western Australia 31.0
New South Wales 31.3
Victoria 31.8
Australian Capital Territory 32.0
Australia 31.2

2 2 1 au 2019 10 01

Data source: ABS 2018a

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2-2-2. Aboriginal maternal age

  • The median age at which Aboriginal women in South Australia gave birth in 2017 is at 25.4 years.2
  • This age is the almost same as the national median for Aboriginal women giving birth (25.6 years).2
  • The trend over the last decade has been gradually increasing.
  • South Australia's median maternal age of Aboriginal mothers is ranked third highest compared to the other states and territories that reported data.2

 

Aboriginal median maternal age, 2017
Region Years
Greater Adelaide n.a.
Country SA n.a.
South Australia 25.4
Australia 25.6

2 2 2 sa 2019 10 01

Data source: ABS 2018b

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Aboriginal median maternal age, 2017
State/Territory Years
Western Australia  25.2
Queensland  25.4
South Australia  25.4
Northern Territory 25.5
New South Wales  25.7
Tasmania 26.2
Victoria 26.4
Australian Capital Territory n.a.
Australia 25.6

2 2 2 au 2019 10 01

Data source: ABS 2018b

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2-2-3. Teenage women giving birth

  • In 2017, there were 442 births in South Australia where the mother was aged 19 years or less.3
  • This represents 2.3% of all births in South Australia and is slightly lower than the national rate of 2.4%.3
  • Over the last decade there has been a downward trend, both in this state and nationally.
  • South Australia ranks fourth lowest of the states and territories for proportion of births where the mother was aged 19 years or less.3

 

Births, mother aged 19 years or less, 2017
Region %
Greater Adelaide n.a.
Country SA n.a.
South Australia 2.3%
Australia 2.4%

2 2 3 sa 2019 10 01

Data source: ABS 2018c

_


Births, mother aged 19 years or less, 2017
State/Territory %
Australian Capital Territory 1.0%
Victoria 1.4%
New South Wales 2.2%
South Australia 2.3%
Western Australia 2.8%
Queensland 3.7%
Tasmania 4.0%
Northern Territory 5.8%
Australia 2.4%

2 2 3 au 2019 10 01

Data source: ABS 2018c

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2-2-4. Aboriginal teenage women giving birth

  • In 2017, there were 110 births in South Australia to Aboriginal mothers aged 19 years or less.4
  • This represents 14.9% of all births in South Australia to Aboriginal mothers, slightly higher than the national rate of 14.2%.4
  • Over the last decade there has been a downward trend, both in this state and nationally.
  • In 2017, South Australia ranked third highest of the states and territories for the proportion of births to Aboriginal mothers aged 19 years or less.4

 

Births, Aboriginal mother aged 19 years or less, 2017
Region %
Greater Adelaide n.a.
Country SA n.a.
South Australia 14.9%
Australia 14.2%

2 2 4 sa 2019 10 01

Data source: ABS 2018d

_


Births, Aboriginal mother aged 19 years or less, 2017
State/Territory %
Tasmania 10.4%
Victoria 11.5%
New South Wales 12.9%
Queensland 14.3%
South Australia 14.9%
Northern Territory 15.3%
Western Australia 17.9%
Australian Capital Territory n.a.
Australia 14.2%

2 2 4 au 2019 10 01

Data source: ABS 2018d

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2-2-5. Women aged 35 years and over giving birth

  • In 2017, there were 4,219 births in South Australia where the mother was aged 35 years or older.3
  • This represents around one in five (22.1%) of all births in South Australia, lower than the national rate of 23.6%.3
  • Since 2007, the proportion of has been relatively steady, both in this state and nationally.
  • Compared to its interstate counterparts, South Australia ranks fourth lowest for the proportion of births to women aged 35 years and over.3

 

Births, mother aged 35 years and over, 2017
Region %
Greater Adelaide n.a.
Country SA n.a.
South Australia 22.1%
Australia 23.6%

2 2 5 sa 2019 10 01

Data source: ABS 2018c

_


Births, mother aged 35 years and over, 2017
State/Territory %
Northern Territory 17.8%
Tasmania 19.5%
Queensland 20.0%
South Australia 22.1%
Western Australia 22.4%
New South Wales 24.6%
Australian Capital Territory 27.3%
Victoria 26.2%
Australia 23.6%

2 2 5 au 2019 10 01

Data source: ABS 2018c

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2-2-6. Aboriginal women aged 35 years and over giving birth

  • In 2017, there were 57 births in South Australia to Aboriginal mothers aged 35 years or older.4
  • This represents 7.7% of all births in South Australia to Aboriginal mothers, slightly lower than the national rate of 9.4%.4
  • Over the last decade, the national rate has increased very slightly, although South Australia's trend is showing a decline.
  • South Australia ranks lowest of the states and territories that reported data (ACT did not publish figures) for the proportion of births to Aboriginal mothers aged 35 years and over.4

 

Births, Aboriginal mother aged 35 years and over, 2017
Region %
Greater Adelaide n.a.
Country SA n.a.
South Australia 7.7%
Australia 9.4%

2 2 6 sa 2019 10 01

Data source: ABS 2018d

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Births, Aboriginal mother aged 35 years and over, 2017
State/Territory  
South Australia  7.7%
Tasmania  8.0% 
Western Australia 8.7%
Queensland 9.4%
New South Wales 9.5%
Northern Territory 9.7%
Victoria 11.4%
Australian Capital Territory n.a.
Australia 9.4%

2 2 6 au 2019 10 01

Data source: ABS 2018d

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Sources

  1. Based on Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS 2018a), 'Table 1.1 Births, Summary, Statistical Areas Level 4–2011 to 2017', Births, Australia, 2017, cat. no. 3301.0, viewed 18 September 2019.
  2. Based on Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS 2018b), 'Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander births and confinements, summary, by state', ABS.Stat (beta), viewed 18 September 2019.
  3. Based on Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS 2018c), 'Fertility, by age, by state', ABS.Stat (beta), viewed 18 September 2019.
  4. Based on Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS 2018d), 'Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander fertility, by age, by state', ABS.Stat (beta), viewed18 September 2019.