Canada sees lowest fertility rate for 2nd year

Canada's fertility rate dropped to its lowest in recorded history for the second consecutive year, with a rate of 1.26 children per woman. B.C. had the nation's lowest rate at one child per woman. Despite stable birth numbers around 350,000, the decline in fertility rate is attributed to an increase in the number of women of childbearing age. Canada is now among countries with 'lowest low' fertility rates, such as South Korea, Spain, Italy and Japan. Premature births in the country reached the highest percentage in 50 years at 8.3%, with older maternal age being a contributing factor. In 2023, 26.5% of new mothers were 35 or older, a significant increase from 10.7% in 1993.