Home / Apple

Photo of smartphone, smartwatch, cryptocurrency
Image: via irrigator.com.au
Apple

iPhone Linked to Baby Bust

WireByte Staff · July 8, 2026

The introduction of the iPhone in 2007 coincided with a decline in birth rates in several countries, including Australia, where the average number of children per woman decreased from 2 to 1.5.

Key points

  • Apple's CEO Steve Jobs introduced the first iPhone at the Macworld convention in San Francisco on January 9, 2007.
  • The iPhone was released in Australia in 2008, and subsequently, the average number of children born to each Australian woman decreased from nearly 2 to around 1.5.
  • A similar decline in birth rates was observed in other countries, including Mexico, Indonesia, Iran, Egypt, and Senegal, following the introduction of the iPhone in those countries.
  • The correlation between the introduction of the iPhone and the decline in birth rates may not necessarily imply a causal connection, and more evidence is needed to confirm the relationship.
  • The decline in birth rates has significant implications for population growth and demographic trends in affected countries.

The introduction of the iPhone in 2007 has been linked to a decline in birth rates in several countries. In Australia, the average number of children born to each woman decreased from nearly 2 to around 1.5 after the iPhone's release in 2008.

A similar trend was observed in other countries, including Mexico, Indonesia, Iran, Egypt, and Senegal, where birth rates fell after the introduction of the iPhone.

While the correlation between the iPhone and declining birth rates is intriguing, it is essential to note that correlation does not necessarily imply causation. More research is needed to determine the underlying factors contributing to this trend.

Sources

WireByte Staff — Editorial Team

The WireByte editorial team synthesises technology news from multiple primary sources, verifies the facts, and links every source. Articles are produced with AI assistance and reviewed under our editorial policy.