Ottawa: In 2023, Canada recorded its lowest ever fertility rate for the second consecutive year, with an average of 1.26 children born per woman. British Columbia has the lowest rate in the country at just one child per woman. Although the total number of births remained stable at around 350,000, the decline in fertility rates is attributed to an increase in women of childbearing age.
Canada has joined countries with very low fertility rates, like South Korea and Italy. Additionally, the rate of premature births reached 8.3%, the highest in 50 years. More older women are giving birth, with 26.5% of new mothers aged 35 or older, compared to 10.7% in 1993. Experts attribute this trend to economic factors and high living costs, leading many young people to delay parenthood. While some women are opting to freeze their eggs for future pregnancies, the doctors warn that there are limits to fertility as age increases.