Fewer Australian babies will be born over the next two years because of the coronavirus pandemic, contributing to the lowest population growth rate since the First World War.

The federal government’s Centre for Population has released a report saying couples are going to delay the expansion of their family because of the economic climate, resulting in fewer babies born in 2021 and 2022.

Graphs tracking the national fertility rate, show it has been falling gradually since 2011 anyway but there’s a sharper dip in 2021.

In a July speech to the National Press Club, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg warned Australia’s population growth will be “effectively halved” by border closures and record low birth rates.

• COVID-19 could see thousands of Aussie women miss out on having kids

Despite the warning, Mr Frydenberg stopped short of replicating Peter Costello’s cash-for-kids ‘baby bonus’ incentives during the John Howard-led government.

Australia’s fertility rate has been steadily falling from a recent peak of 2 back in 2008, amid a resources boom and baby a bonus to encourage breeding.

The fertility rate is forecast to drop to 1.59 babies per woman in 2021 compared to 1.7 in 2018.

By 2030, the long-term average is expected to settle at 1.62.

• Lockdown leads to more bedroom time, but babies won’t follow

Minister for Population, Cities and Urban Infrastructure Alan Tudge said while a lack of migration would be the main contributor to Australia’s declining population growth, fertility rates tend to slow in times of economic uncertainty.

“Our population growth will be the lowest since World War I as a result of COVID,” he said.

-with AAP