The bar chart illustrates how many Australian women in different age groups gave birth to their first child in the years 1966, 1986, and 2006, expressed as percentages.
Overall, females belonging to the two youngest groups showed a decrease interest in giving birth, whereas those of the remaining groups registered an upward trend in birth-giving rate. It is also noteworthy that the most significant growth was seen in those aged between 25 and 29.
From 1966 to 1986, the highest rate seen in giving birth shifted from the 20-24 to the 25-29 bracket. In 1996, under two-thirds of women from 20 to 24 years old gave first childbirth (61%), approximately a quarter higher than figures recorded in the under-19 and 25-29 age cohort (35% and 38% respectively). Data for the 30-34 and 35-39 age brackets were much lower, hovering around 10%, whereas the oldest group recorded the lowest percentage (roughly 1%). However, by 1986, the second youngest age group was overtaken by the 25-29 group to top the chart in terms of data (just shy of 40% compared to over 50%). Except for the oldest group, which underwent a slight increase to 3%, the rest of the groups had figures ranging around 18%.
In 2006, the rate of those between 30 and 34 years old surged, making this demographic as the most active group in giving first child birth. Nevertheless, this figure was still lower than the peak seen in the two previous years (49% compared to 51% in 1986 and 62% in 1966). Following this, 41% of women giving birth was seen for those aged 25-29. The second youngest and oldest groups reached parity in their proportion with 30%, whilst the youngest bracket kept declining, ending with over 10%. The oldest bracket exhibited negligible rise (by a mere percentage point).