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Story: Population change

Fertility rate compared to other OECD countries, 2014

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Though New Zealand's fertility rates were low in the early 21st century compared to previous decades and centuries, they were higher than those of most other developed countries. In 2014 New Zealand's fertility rate was 1.9 births per woman, compared to an OECD average of 1.7. New Zealand's rate was then just below replacement level (2.1 births per woman), although it has since fallen to 1.8 in 2017.

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Te Ara – The Encyclopedia of New Zealand

Source: OECD Fertility rates

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How to cite this page

Ian Pool and Natalie Jackson, Population change – Key population trends, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/graph/28722/fertility-rate-compared-to-other-oecd-countries-2014 (accessed 24 June 2026).

Story by Ian Pool and Natalie Jackson, published 21 April 2011, reviewed and revised 23 August 2018 with assistance from Natalie Jackson.