Cost of raising two children in Australia has risen 134% in two decades, study says
News Source
β’Tue, 22 Sep 2026 19:00:03 GMT
π° What Happened
The Parenthood, an advocacy group, released new research on 23 Sep 2026. It found that raising two or more children in Australia now costs at least $36,500 a year. That is 134% more than it cost two decades ago.
Household income only grew 102% over the same time. Childcare now makes up 33% of the cost of having children, up from 27% in 2003. Group chief executive Georgie Dent will speak at the National Press Club in Canberra.
π The Backstory
The report follows Monday's intergenerational report. It warned that Australia's birth rate is falling, and that deaths will outnumber births within 40 years. Dent says having children cuts a woman's earnings by around 55% in the first five years.
The government says it still wants universal childcare. Treasurer Jim Chalmers pointed to a $1b plan to build childcare centres in areas with poor access. A report on the policy pathway is due before the next election.
π― Why It Matters
Childcare costs are a big reason families delay having children. If care stays expensive, fewer babies will be born and more parents will struggle to work or pay bills.
The Parenthood, an advocacy group, released new research on 23 Sep 2026. It found that raising two or more children in Australia now costs at least $36,500 a year. That is 134% more than it cost two decades ago.
Household income only grew 102% over the same time. Childcare now makes up 33% of the cost of having children, up from 27% in 2003. Group chief executive Georgie Dent will speak at the National Press Club in Canberra.
The report follows Monday's intergenerational report. It warned that Australia's birth rate is falling, and that deaths will outnumber births within 40 years. Dent says having children cuts a woman's earnings by around 55% in the first five years.
The government says it still wants universal childcare. Treasurer Jim Chalmers pointed to a $1b plan to build childcare centres in areas with poor access. A report on the policy pathway is due before the next election.
Childcare costs are a big reason families delay having children. If care stays expensive, fewer babies will be born and more parents will struggle to work or pay bills.