New Zealand's fertility rates continue to plummet, with 2023 figures being the lowest on record.

Last year, the country's fertility rate dropped to 1.56. The average across OECD countries is 1.59.

This follows a full decade of New Zealand's fertility rates being below the replacement level of 2.1.

Massey University emeritus professor Paul Spoonley says environmental concerns and the cost of having children have driven down the birth rates 

"It really began to occur internationally during the Global Financial Crisis, in 2008 to 2012. And of course, Covid- many thought Covid might see a bit of a spike in births. As we emerged from Covid, that has not occurred."

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