StatCan says fertility rate remains at the all-time low seen the previous year

Statistics Canada reports that Canada's fertility rate in 2025 remained at the lowest level seen the previous year, staying at 1.26 children per woman. This rate has been relatively unchanged since 2024. The average age of mothers giving birth has increased to a new high of 31.9 years, as fertility rates have been declining globally since 2009, placing Canada in the bottom seven among 20 high-income countries.

In 2021, the number of home births reached pre-pandemic levels, with over 9,000 babies born outside hospitals that year. Now, the figure has dropped to around 7,000 as more families opt for home births to minimize the risk of COVID-19 transmission.