The number of births in Quebec increased year-over-year in 2025 for the first time since 2021, but remains well below the pre-pandemic level. Statistics Canada recorded 78,200 births in 2025, an increase of 974 babies compared to 2024, when 77,226 new Quebecers were born. The fertility rate also saw a slight increase, rising from 1.35 children per woman in 2024 to 1.36 children per woman in 2025. This rate is higher than the Canadian average, which stands at 1.26 children per woman. Births also rose nationwide: 373,140 children were born in 2025, compared to 366,494 in 2024. Another trend emerging from the report released Wednesday is that, on average, women—both in Quebec and in other provinces—wait until they are in their thirties before having a child. The average age of first-time mothers is 31.5 years in Quebec and 31.9 years in Canada. This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on Sept. 23, 2026.
