Average Age of Mothers in Nunavut at Birth (1999-2023)

Nunavut has long had a distinct demographic profile, but even here, patterns of childbirth are shifting. From 1999 to 2023, the territory has experienced a gradual decline in teen births, an increase in births among women in their 30s, and a more balanced spread across age groups. These shifts have important implications for health care, education, and policy in Canada’s northernmost territory.

Teen Birth Rates Remain High but Are Declining

In 1999, 20.3% of births in Nunavut were to women aged 15–19. While still high by national standards, that number dropped to 16.4% in 2023. The under-15 category remains small but consistent, averaging around 0.5% per year.

This gradual decrease suggests that public health efforts and education programs may be making inroads, though teen motherhood remains a key demographic feature in the region.

Early 20s Still Dominant, But Slowly Falling

The 20–24 age group continues to be the most common age for childbirth in Nunavut. In 1999, they made up 32.7% of all births. In 2023, this declined slightly to 28.1%. Though still dominant, the dip signals that more women are delaying their first child into their late 20s or 30s.

Rise of the 30–34 Age Group

Women in their early 30s are now having more children than ever before in Nunavut. The proportion of births to mothers aged 30–34 rose from 14.6% in 1999 to 18.4% in 2023. This shift reflects greater access to education, employment opportunities, and potentially changing cultural expectations around parenting.

Notable Growth in Ages 35–39

The percentage of births among women aged 35–39 has doubled from 4.6% in 1999 to 9.1% in 2023. This is significant in a territory where early motherhood has been the norm. It also suggests that more women are either having additional children later in life or starting families later than in previous decades.

Births in the 40s Still Rare but Present

Births to women aged 40–44 have remained low but stable, rising slightly from 2.4% in 1999 to 2.4% again in 2023 after fluctuating through the years. Mothers aged 45–49 consistently represent less than 1% of all births in the territory.

Percentage of Births by Age of Mother in Nunavut:

Age of mother	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023
under 15 years	1.1	1	0.7	0.8	0.5	0.1	0.7	0.6	0.5	0.4	0.2	0.1	0.4	0.5	0.4	0.2	0.3	0.5	0.8	0.7	0.6	0.4	0.6	0.6	0.6
15 to 19 years	20.3	19.2	21.3	21.1	21.6	24.3	22.4	24.2	22.2	22.2	20.5	19.9	20.3	18.6	21.7	17.4	19.1	18	17	17.7	18.4	18	16	16.5	16.4
20 to 24 years	32.7	31.8	33.2	33	31.1	31.4	30.3	30.5	33.9	35.7	32.5	35.2	34.4	34.7	32.8	30.3	30.8	29.5	30.2	29.3	28.6	28.5	29	26.5	28.1
25 to 29 years	24.3	26.7	22.2	22.9	23.5	23.4	23.7	23.6	21.5	22.5	22.7	25	24.3	23.4	22.9	26.9	26.7	26.3	26	26.9	25.9	25.9	24.4	25.4	24.8
30 to 34 years	14.6	14.8	14.1	14.2	16.4	13.3	14.8	12.9	13.7	11.6	15.3	11.7	13.5	15.5	14.6	17.2	16.2	16.9	15.7	17.7	17.5	19	19.8	19.1	18.4
35 to 39 years	4.6	4.8	5.7	6.4	5.6	6.6	6.5	5.9	6.4	5.9	6	5.9	5.9	6.1	6.8	6.7	5.9	6.6	9.4	6.1	7	7.4	8.3	9.6	9.1
40 to 44 years	2.4	1.3	2	1.4	0.9	0.5	1.5	1.7	1.7	1.6	2.4	1.5	1.2	1.3	0.6	1.2	1	2.1	1	1.6	1.9	0.6	1.8	2.1	2.4
45 to 49 years	0.2	0.3	0.7	0.1	0.3	0.3	0.1	0.5	0.1	0.1	0.3	0.5	0	0	0.1	0.1	0	0.1	0	0.1	0	0.3	0.1	0.1	0.1

Source:

Source Name:	Statistics Canada. Table 13-10-0416-01. Live births, by age of mother.
Source Link:	https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/cv.action?pid=1310041601
Release Date:	2024-09-25