Australia has been warned it will need to significantly boost immigration to offset a record-low birth rate, according to demographic experts citing new figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The warning centres on concerns that a shrinking working-age population, driven by falling fertility, could undermine economic growth and strain the country's ability to fund services for an ageing population unless migration levels are increased to compensate.

Experts cited in the report note that Australia's fertility rate has fallen to a historic low, mirroring trends seen across many developed nations, and caution that once such demographic patterns become entrenched they are difficult to reverse. They argue that sustained or higher immigration will be essential to maintain workforce numbers and support economic output in the coming decades, framing the issue as an urgent policy challenge rather than a distant concern.