title: Recent trends in fertility and family formation.
abstract: "Australia's fertility has declined significantly since the 1950s, and has remained below the long-term replacement level since 1976.  The current trend appears to be towards a further decline.  This paper describes the patterns of the fertility decline in terms of age and parity of the mother, and the effect on recent fertility decline of the postponement of marriage and family formation.  The implications of the continued decline in fertility on completed family size are studied by reference to fertility patterns of marriage cohorts."
authors.forename: C Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: L T
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Ruzicka
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D001315:Australia; D001723:Birth Rate; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003710:Demography; D019049:Developed Countries; D003906:Developing Countries; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005298:Fertility; D008393:Marriage; D008423:Maternal Age; D010139:Pacific Islands; D010290:Parents; D010298:Parity; D011153:Population; D011154:Population Characteristics; D011157:Population Dynamics; D012725:Sexual Behavior
keywords: Age Factors; Australia; Below Replacement Fertility; Cohort Analysis; Delayed Childbearing; Demographic Factors; Developed Countries; Developing Countries; Family And Household; Family Characteristics; Family Size; Family Size, Completed; Fertility; Fertility Measurements; Low Fertility Population; Marriage; Marriage Age; Marriage Patterns; Marriage Postponement; Maternal Age; Nuptiality; Oceania; Parental Age; Parity; Population; Population Characteristics; Population Decrease; Population Dynamics; Reproductive Behavior