The Economy, Stupid
The Economy, Stupid
ABC Australia
Australia’s baby bust: what happens when a nation stops replacing itself?
29 minutes Posted Apr 2, 2026 at 6:30 am.
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Australia’s birth rate is collapsing, heading for a record low next year, well below the level needed for the population to replace itself. 
Fewer couples, fewer kids, and a world where ageing societies reshape everything from innovation to taxes. Why is this happening everywhere at once, and what does it mean for your future?
Guests: 
Viva Hammer, ANU population researcher and tax expert
Myriam Robin, AFR senior writer