Mean age of women at birth of first child

Source: UNECE Statistical Database, compiled from national and international (Eurostat and UNICEF TransMONEE) official sources.

Definition: The mean age of women at birth of first child is the weighted average of the different childbearing ages, using as weights the age-specific fertility rates of first-order births.

General note: Data come from registers, unless otherwise specified. Data for 2010 come from the European Demographic Data Sheet (Wittgenstein Centre) for the following countries: Albania, Cyprus, Malta, Montenegro, Sweden and Turkey.

.. - data not available

Country: Belgium

Change in definition (1980 - 2000): Data are based on events.

Country: Canada

- From 2017 onwards: Births data after Y2016 does not cover Yukon territory.
- As a result of delays with birth registrations, fewer births have been captured, to date, for Manitoba in 2021. There were also fewer births captured for Nova Scotia in 2021 due to completeness issues. Other provinces and territories may also have been affected and the 2021 births data will be revised with subsequent releases. Consequently, trends in the fertility rates and total fertility rate should be interpreted with caution.
- 2000 : data refer to 1999.

Country: Cyprus

Data cover only the government controlled area.
Data are based on events and not on fertility rates.
Break in series - 2010: change is source.

Country: Finland

Change in definition (1980): Data refer to children born in marriages.

Country: France

Break in series - 2007: change is source.

Country: Georgia

From 1995 : data do not cover Abkhazia and South Ossetia (Tshinvali).

Country: Germany

Break in methodlogy (2009): From 2009 data refer to biological birth order.

Country: Germany

Change in definition (1980 - 2008): Data refer to children born in marriages. Data are based on events.

Country: Germany

Territorial change (1980 - 1990): Data cover only West Germany (Federal Republic of Germany).

Country: Germany

Territorial change (1995 - 2012): Data refer to reunified Germany, i.e. include the ex-German Democratic Republic (East Germany).

Country: Greece

Before 1991: data were based on the de facto population. From 1991: data are based on the de jure population. Break in time series in 2000. Before 2000 mean age was calculated on the basis of events. From 2000 onwards calculations are based on rates.

Country: Ireland

Data are based on events and not on fertility rates. For 2007-2008, data refer to yera of registration and could include data from previous years.

Country: Ireland

Data cover the Republic of Ireland only.

Country: Israel

Data are based on events and are not a weighted average of the different childbearing ages.

Country: Italy

Additional information (2000 - 2011): Since 1/1/1999 data by birth order are estimated using resident population registers and sample surveys. Data related to 2002-2011 are calculated using intercensal register population estimates.

Country: Luxembourg

Change in definition (1995 - onwards): Data are based on events

Country: Malta

Data refer to the average of the different childbearing ages of first-order births.

Country: Montenegro

Break in series - 2010: change is source.

Country: Norway

Data is calculated based on actual age at first births.

Country: Portugal

Data are based on events by age groups, using as weights the middle point of each five years age groups, from 15 to 49

Country: Russian Federation

From 2000: break in series; estimates based on available data from territories that produce data on birth by order and single ages of mother.

Country: Serbia

Data do not cover Kosovo and Metohija.

Country: Sweden

Break in series - 2010: change in source.

Country: Switzerland

Change in definition (1980 - 2012): Data refer to married women only.

Country: United Kingdom

Territorial change (2000 - onwards): Data refer to England and Wales.