Children ever born comparison of Northam (Demo) local government area forecast

Children ever born comparison explained

Children ever born shows the number of live-born children females aged 15 and over have had during their lifetime. It is a lifetime count, not a count of children currently living in the home.

These figures are Place Forecast estimates based on Census data published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

There are eight categories:

• No children.
• One child.
• Two children.
• Three children.
• Four children.
• Five children.
• Six or more children.
• Not stated.

The figures count only live-born children the female respondent has had. Adopted, foster, and step-children are not counted.

This page is different from the Fertility rate page. Fertility rate measures births during a single year. Children ever born measures the total number of children a person has had across their lifetime. For example, think of a woman whose children moved out years ago. She is still counted here, based on how many children she has had.

The figures count females aged 15 and over at their usual residence. They include people in non-private dwellings, such as hospitals, aged-care homes, hostels, and student housing. They do not count overseas visitors.

The ABS also publishes a Not stated count, because some people choose not to answer.

Younger and older age groups should be read differently. Younger women may not have started having children yet. Older women have usually had all their children. The area's age make-up can strongly affect the headline mix. To compare areas, look at the share of older cohorts in each category, not the headline mix.

Reading this data fairly

These figures describe how people answered Census questions. Here are the equity caveats to keep in mind so the numbers describe communities fairly:

• This question is asked only of people the Census records as female. So trans men and non-binary people who have given birth can be undercounted. The page records sex as female or male only, and saying more about sex and gender would need a different data source.
• In Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander kinship, and in many culturally and linguistically diverse households, the care of children is shared across many adults. This page counts births to the respondent, not those wider caring relationships.
• Read each count as a number of children ever born. It is not a measure of need or a judgement about a person.

See the marker methodology for how these figures are calculated and their limitations.