A groundbreaking global estimate reveals that assisted reproductive technology (ART), particularly in vitro fertilisation (IVF), has become integral to millions of families worldwide, with one ART-conceived baby born every 35 seconds.
A recent study published in Fertility and Sterility—the first to tally global IVF births—estimates that between 10 and 13 million babies were born via IVF in the 40 years following the world’s first IVF infant in 1978. This figure, equivalent to over half of Australia’s population, has grown exponentially since then.
“Previously, we tracked annual IVF births but never used a consistent method to calculate the total global count, accounting for missing data,” explains Professor Georgina Chambers, lead author and director of UNSW’s National Perinatal Epidemiology and Statistics Unit (NPESU).
She notes that preliminary data suggests an additional 3–4 million IVF babies were born after the study’s 2018 cutoff, bringing the 2024 total to 13–17 million.
Australia, a key player in IVF history, delivered its first IVF baby in 1983 (the third country globally to do so) and has since led in safety and success. It was the first nation to establish an IVF registry, thanks to early collaborations between pioneers, NPESU, and the Fertility Society of Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ). Today, 1 in 16 Australian babies are IVF-conceived, rising to 1 in 10 among women over 35.
The Data Breakdown
The study analyzed 1978–2018 data from the International Committee Monitoring Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ICMART), where Professor Chambers serves as data custodian. High-income nations, including Australia, lead in IVF usage due to funding and infrastructure, while low- and middle-income countries often lack access.
Australia’s success is partly due to its focus on single embryo transfers—over 93% of cycles use this method, keeping multiple birth rates below 3%. Most Australian IVF babies now come from frozen embryos, a shift enabled by improved freezing techniques.
IVF: A Personal Tool, Not a Population Fix
With global birth rates declining—Europe’s population is projected to shrink from 2026—some countries are funding IVF to boost fertility. But Professor Chambers warns this is ineffective. “IVF helps individuals, not overall rates significantly,” she says. “It’s a medical treatment for infertility, not a solution to declining populations.”
She emphasizes that access to fertility care is a human right, a principle Australia has championed through equitable support. However, a misconception persists: that IVF can easily resolve infertility, leading people to delay childbearing until older ages, when success rates drop. For women over 35, IVF success declines sharply: 30% for 35-year-olds, 15% for 40-year-olds, and 10% for 42-year-olds, due to fewer and lower-quality eggs.
“IVF works best for younger women,” Professor Chambers notes. “Policies supporting timely childbearing—balancing work and family—are more effective for fertility rates than relying on IVF.”
As IVF births surge, she hopes global access to safe, high-quality care will expand, rooted in human rights. “Behind each number is a personal journey,” she says. “Every family deserves the chance to build their future.”
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