Despite Australians delaying having a baby because of concerns over financial future, a record 297,900 babies were born in 2010.

However, what also rose was the average age of first-time fathers which went up t0 33.1 years and mothers as well at 30.7 years.

But the 2010 birth rate did not match the record 296,700 new births in 2008, which dropped to 295,738 in 2009. Likewise on a downtrend, despite the birth of more babies in 2010 was national fertility rate which stood at 1.89 babies per woman.

By state, the Northern Territory registered the highest fertility rate at 2.11 babies per woman, while on the other end is Victoria with a rate of 1.75. However, in terms of new births, New South Wales topped the list with 95,918 new babies in 2010.

Male babies outnumbered females at a ratio of 105 boys for every 100 baby girls.

Experts said the higher birth rate reflects the ability of Australians to withstand the global financial crisis.

"People have babies when they are confident of the future.... It's a reflection that we have come through the economic uncertainty very strongly and it hasn't diminished our confidence in the future," KPMG demographer Bernard Salt told News.com.au.

More babies being born is also a function of national mood. The victory of New Zealand's All Blacks team in the Rugby World Cup is expected to result in more births by July in New Zealand because one way people celebrate the sports victory is to make love.

The basis of such a forecast is similar observations of higher birth rates in New Zealand nine months after the All Blacks' victory in the same sports event in 1987.