The bar chart illustrates the percentage of women in six different age groups who gave birth to their first child in 1966, 1986, and 2006.
Overall, the trend shifted from younger to older mothers over the 40-year period. In 1966, most women had their first child in their early twenties, whereas by 2006, women in their thirties had become the dominant group.
In 1966, women aged 19-24 accounted for the largest proportion of first-time mothers, at around 60%, followed by those under 19 at about 40%. The figures for women aged 25-30 and 30-34 were much lower, approximately 10% and 5%, respectively, while only a very small fraction of women over 35 gave birth for the first time.
By 1986, the proportion of younger mothers declined noticeably. Women aged 25-30 became the most common group, representing roughly 38%, while those aged 19-24 dropped to just over 30%. There was also a modest increase among women in their early thirties, rising to nearly 20%.
In 2006, the trend toward older motherhood became more pronounced. The percentage of women aged 30-34 giving birth to their first child climbed to about 27%, while the 25-30 group followed closely at 24%. Meanwhile, the figures for younger age groups continued to decline – falling to around 15% for 19-24-year-olds and below 10% for teenagers. Additionally, a small rise was recorded among women aged 35-39 and over 40, both reaching about 10%.