N.L. birth rate sags as national rate remains stable

Newfoundland and Labrador experienced the greatest decline in birth rate of anyprovince during 2004, according to data released Monday by Statistics Canada.

The agency's report shows the number of births in the province dropped three per cent in 2004 compared to the previous year.

It blamed migration to other provinces by people aged 20 to 29 as a primary cause for the drop.

The report also noted the province gets fewer immigrants who tend to have more children than Canadian-born women than other provinces.

Statistics Canadasaid women in Newfoundland and Labrador gave birth to 4,488 babies in 2004, down three per cent from 2003's total of 4,629. Across the province, the number of births in 2004 was just half of the 8,929 recorded in 1983.

Of Canada's 10 provinces and three territories, only Nova Scotia, Quebec, Ontario, Alberta and Yukon reported increases in the number of births in 2004.

Nationwide, 337,072 babies were born in 2004, up 0.6 per centfrom the previous year.

Other2004statisticsin the report:

• The average age of women giving birth in Canada was 29.7 years.
• More than 62 per cent of women who gave birth during the year were aged 25 to 34.
• 34.7 per cent of births were to women over the age of 35.
• Theoverall fertility rate in Canada was 1.53 children per woman. The record-low fertility rate for Canada was set in2000, at1.49children per woman.