The bar chart compares the percentages of women in different age groups who gave birth to their first child in 1966, 1986 and 2006. Overall, women tended to have their first child at an older age over the period. The 30-34 age group experienced the most dramatic increase, whereas the proportion of first-time mothers aged 19-24 declined the most. In general, the percentage of women under 25 fell, while those aged 25 and above increased.
Turning to the older age groups, the proportion of women aged 25-30 increased steadily over the period, rising from approximately 36% in 1966 to 50% in 1986 before falling slightly to around 38% in 2006. The percentage of women aged 30-34 rose dramatically, beginning at 14% it rose slightly to around 18% in 1986 before peaking at approximately 48% in 2006. The figure for women aged 34-39 grew as well, increasing from approximately 8% in 1966 to 13% in 1986, followed by a substantial increase eventually reaching its peak at 30% by 2006. Similarly, the figure for women aged over 40 remained the lowest throughout the period, falling slightly to 2% in 1986, before increasing steadily to approximately 6% in the final year.
By contrast, the younger age groups followed the opposite trend. The share of women under 19 declined steadily over the period, beginning at just over 35% in 1966 before falling to 20% in 1986 and eventually reaching approximately 13% in 2006. Meanwhile, first-time birth among women aged 19-24 followed a similar pattern. Having accounted for the largest proportion in 1966, it declined sharply from 62% to about 37% by 1986, before declining gradually to about 27% in 2006