The Most Common Birthday in Australia

What would you name as the birthday that is most popular in Australia? A sunny summer day, maybe? To spread out the birthdays, why not choose a day in the middle of the calendar year? The Most Common Birthday in Australia?

Wrong is wrong.

It turns out that Aussies prefer a specific day to welcome babies into the world. And no, it is not Christmas Day, or even a lovely springtime date. The Australian Bureau of Statistics has revealed that there is one day in particular when it comes to birthdays for Aussies.

Drumroll Please…

The birthday of September 17th is the most celebrated!: The Most Common Birthday in Australia

That’s right. The most common birthday is September 17. Your child, partner or best friend who was born on this date is in good company. 8,862 Australians have shared the same birthday over the past 10 years. This is a lot of birthday cake, candles and invitations being sent out all at once.

Why September 17? Why is September 17 so special?

Let’s go back about nine months.

Christmas Cheer: September Birth Boom

It is likely that if your baby was born between 21 December and 29 December, their story began sometime in the past. It’s that time of the year when:

• Everyone is on Holiday
• The work is finished (or has slowed down)
• The wine is flowing freely
• People are… feeling festive
• What about the weather? There’s no need to wear layers of clothing in this weather.

Data analysts are not required to make the connection. The perfect storm to create a bedroom boom is a combination of Christmas spirit and relaxed vibes, as well as time off from work. After all, it’s the holiday season.

While everyone is wrapping gifts and toasting the New Year, they are also – perhaps unknowingly – getting a head start on next year’s birthday club.

The Closest Second: April 8,

April 8 is in second place, with 8,829 babies born within the same 10-year period. These babies were probably conceived between the 12th and 20th of July. This brings up another interesting point.

Winter Warm-ups

When the heaters are on, the nights are long and Netflix asks if you are still watching, it’s not uncommon for people to… look for other ways to keep warm and entertained. The mid-July birth boom leads to a lot of fall arrivals.

There are more surprises in the top 5!

Third place? The 23rd of September had 8,816 babies. September 24and October 1 tied for the fourth position with 8,813 each. February 12 rounds out the top five with 8,810 babies. 

Seen a trend?

Three of the five most common birthdays occur in September, and one is on the cusp of October. It’s official, Australia is baby central during September.

If you have ever wondered why your local supermarket runs out of novelty cakes, helium-filled balloons and birthday candles around late September, you now know the reason.

The Great Birthday Dip – Public Holidays are a No Go

There are days when only a few children are born. This is the most interesting part.

The data shows that the distribution of birth dates is not as even-handed as you may think. ABS Demography Director Beidarcho says that fewer babies are being born on public holidays. This pattern is not unique to Australia.

Similar trends are also seen in New Zealand, the UK, and the United States. What’s the story?

The hospital schedule has more to do than just stopping people from having babies.

Major public holidays such as:

• Christmas Day (December 25,
• Boxing Day, December 26
• New Year’s Day
• Australia Day (26 January)
• Anzac Day (April 25)

This means that unless you have a spontaneous labour, the birth of your child will be pushed to a date more convenient for all.

The least popular birthdays in Australia

Here are the 5 least common birthdays in Australia.

1. Leap Day is February 29. It’s only once every four years, so it isn’t surprising that it’s not very common.
2. Christmas Day: No surprises here. Hospitals are quiet, and the few newborns who arrive on Christmas Day are forever tied to the ultimate birthday sharing situation.
3. Boxing Day, December 26– The post-Christmas chill is still present. Fewer births are scheduled.
4. New Year’s Day (January 1). Most people have hangovers, and the hospital staff is very small.
5. 26 January (Australia Day) – Another Public Holiday, Birthday.

If you are planning to have a child and want a special birthdate, you might consider one of these more rare dates. To have a Leap Day child, you’ll need to plan with great precision and some good luck. Or a time machine.

Why birthday clustering is important

You may be wondering: Interesting, but is it important that your baby shares a birthday with thousands of others?

It’s a start!

1. The Party Planning Game Gets Competitive

It’s a good bet that your child will share a birthday on the same date as at least another kid in his class. The logistics of coordinating parties and RSVPs can rival the wedding planner’s schedule.

2. It’s a guarantee that they will always have birthday buddies

Your child won’t feel alone on their birthday. You can always find another September baby to share in the celebrations and the cake.

3. Astrology overload

According to the exact date, babies born in mid-to-late September fall under either Libra or Virgo. This means that there are statistically more adorable peacekeepers and tiny perfectionists in Australia than you would expect. Coincidence? The stars say no.

The Data Behind the Numbers

The birthday bonanza was not just an observation, but backed up by solid research. The ABS analysed registrations between 2007 and 2016, providing a detailed image of when Australians most likely arrive in the world.

The data shows that some dates are incredibly popular and others are noticeably quiet. Even in “busy months” like September and March, only a few days are at the top.

It’s fascinating to see how seasonal patterns appear. Combining:

• Holiday periods (Christmas, New Year’s)
• The cooler months (cuddling season).
• Public Health Scheduling (avoiding Holidays)

All of these factors play a surprising role in determining when babies are born.

What does this mean for you?

These stats will give you some interesting insights about how humans, and especially Australians, plan the arrival of their little ones.

What you should take from this:

• Do you want to be popular on your birthday? Plan a romantic Christmas.
• Do you prefer a birthday that is not publicised? Try to choose a date in late December or early January.
• Are you up for a challenge? Leap Year Babies are the unicorns in the birthday world.
• Are you done having babies? You might want to consider turning down Mariah Carey’s playlist around December 24.

Congratulations to your baby if he or she is born on 17 September. It’s one of the happiest, most exciting birthdays of the year. Book your party venue right now.

Final Thoughts – Every Birthday is Special!

Every birth date is worthy of celebration, whether your baby is born in a crowd or on a quiet day.

The joy you will bring everyone around that child is more important than being rare, unique or perfect in timing. It’s the life and love of the little one.

So, whether your child is an outlier or a chart-topper, they are 100% unique. If you don’t plan to join the September Baby Club next year, maybe take it easy with the Christmas cocktails.