Statistics Canada reports that the nation's fertility rate stagnated at a historic low of 1.26 per woman during 2025. This plateau coincides with a significant rise in the average age of mothers, which has now reached 31.9 years.
From 26.7 to 31.9: The widening gap in maternal age
The demographic landscape in Canada is shifting toward a much older maternal profile. According to Statistics Canada, the average age of mothers at childbirth reached 31.9 years in 2025, a significant increae from the 26.7-year average recorded in 1976. This trend aligns with a broader downward trajectory that began in 2009, with a particularly sharp decline of 4% annually between 2017 and 2023.
This delay in childbearing is not merely a matter of lifestyle preference but is increasingly intertwined with biological realities.. As women wait longer to start families, the window for successful conception narrows, often complicated by existing health issues that may go undetected in younger years.
Ranking 7th lowest among 20 high-income nations
Canada’s current fertility position places it in a precarious middle ground on the global stage. As reported by CTV News, Canada holds the seventh-lowest fertility rate among 20 selected high-income countries. While the United States maintains a higher rate of 1.57 children per woman, followed by Iceland and France at 1.56, Canada's rate remains significantly lower.
For much of its history, Canada occupied a more central position in these international rankings. However , the data indicates a pivot toward the lower end of the spectrum starting around 2018, mirroring the struggles seen in other developed economies, though Canada remains well above the extreme lows seen in South Korea, which reported a rate of 0.80.
Maria Porcellato on the impact of PCOS and endometriosis
Medical experts suggest that the intersection of lifestyle and reproductive health is a critical driver of these numbers. Maria Porcellato, CEO of the Alberta-based EndoDiagnosis, noted in an interview with CTV News that factors like working conditions, the cost of living, and lifestyle choiices are deeply influencing these trends.
Porcellato highlighted that conditions such as endometriosis—which affects up to one in four women—and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) can further complicate fertility. She argued that a lack of preventative health management allows these conditions to progress from simple to complex, making conception more difficult for women who are already delaying pregnancy due to economic or professional pressures.
Will Quebec's 2026 uptick signal a national reversal?
While the national outlook remains grim, a single province has provided a glimmer of divergence. In Quebec, the fertility rate saw a slight increase in 2026,marking the first rise in the region since the pandemic era.
This localized trend raises several critical questions that the current data cannot yet answer. It remains unclear if Quebec's minor uptick is a statistical anomaly or the beginning of a broader recovery. Furthermore, while experts like Porcellato point to medical and lifestyle factors, the degree to which economic pressures like housing and inflation are the primary drivers remains a subject of intense debate among policymakers.
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