The table shows the number of children born to women aged 40–44 years in Australia in 1981, 1986, 1996 and 2001.
In 1981, women aged 40-44 years were only marginally more likely to have had two children than three children (29% vs 27. 4%) or four or more children (27. 6%). Similarly, by 1986, women of this age were considerably more likely to have given birth to two children than three children (35. 6% vs 27%) or four or more children (18. 9%).
In 1996 and 2006, the proportions of women aged 40-44 years who had given birth to two children were almost identical, though the proportions who had given birth to three children or to four or more children had decreased. In these more recent periods, women were more likely to have had two children than three or more children - a trend that was most marked in the most recent period (38. 2% vs 24. 6% in 1996; 38. 3% vs 21. 5% in 2006).
While two-child families now predominate, the number of women who had given birth to only one child increased progressively from 7. 6% in 1981 to 13. 2% in 2006.
In 1981, similar proportions of women aged in their early forties were childless or had given birth to only one child (8. 5% and 7. 6% respectively). By 2006, 15. 9% of women were childless and 13. 2% had given birth to only one child.
Overall, by age 40-44 years, the proportion of women who have had three or more children has fallen considerably since the 1980s, while the proportions who have had no children, or only one or two children has increased.
The table
shows
the number of
children
born to
women
aged
40–44 years in Australia in 1981, 1986, 1996 and 2001.
In 1981,
women
aged
40-44 years were
only
marginally
more likely to have had two
children
than three
children
(29% vs 27. 4%) or four or more
children
(27. 6%).
Similarly
, by 1986,
women
of this age were
considerably
more likely to have
given
birth
to two
children
than three
children
(35. 6% vs 27%) or four or more
children
(18. 9%).
In 1996 and 2006, the proportions of
women
aged
40-44 years
who
had
given
birth
to two
children
were almost identical, though the proportions
who
had
given
birth
to three
children
or to four or more
children
had decreased. In these more recent periods,
women
were more likely to have had two
children
than three or more
children
-
a trend that was most marked in the most recent period (38. 2% vs 24. 6% in 1996; 38. 3% vs 21. 5% in 2006).
While two-child families
now
predominate, the number of
women
who
had
given
birth
to
only
one child increased
progressively
from 7. 6% in 1981 to 13. 2% in 2006.
In 1981, similar proportions of
women
aged
in their early forties were childless or had
given
birth
to
only
one child (8. 5% and 7. 6%
respectively
). By 2006, 15. 9% of
women
were childless and 13. 2% had
given
birth
to
only
one child.
Overall
, by age 40-44 years, the
proportion
of
women
who
have had three or more
children
has fallen
considerably
since the 1980s, while the proportions
who
have had no
children
, or
only
one or two
children
has increased.