Induction of labour
Induction is an intervention to stimulate the onset of labour. It is performed for a number of reasons related to both the mother and the baby, such as maternal or baby medical conditions and post-term pregnancy (Coates et al 2020). For more information, see Clinical commentary.
This indicator examines induction of labour for selected women giving birth for the first time.
Key findings
In 2023, 43% of selected women giving birth for the first time had an induced labour. This proportion:
- increased from 26% in 2004 to 46% in 2020, with most of the increase occurring over the last decade, before decreasing slightly to 43% in 2023
- was lowest in the ACT and Queensland (40% and 37% respectively) in 2023.
The trend data presented include years for which the COVID-19 pandemic was considered a public health emergency (2020–2022). The pandemic coincided with changes in the birth rate and changes in the experience of pregnancy and childbirth for many women and their families, though due to the complex nature of the pandemic, its impacts on maternal and perinatal outcomes are still unclear. For more information on induction of labour during the COVID-19 pandemic, see Onset of labour in Maternal and perinatal outcomes during the 2020 and 2021 COVID-19 pandemic.
The interactive data visualisation (Figure 8) presents data on induction of labour in selected women giving birth for the first time. Use the drop-down menu to view data by selected characteristics and the latest year button to explore data for 2023.
Figure 8: Induction of labour
This data visualisation presents data on induction of labour. Interactive charts show proportions for the most recent data and over time, for selected demographic and birth characteristics.
Clinical commentary
When induction of labour is indicated on medical grounds, it is undertaken when the risks of continuing the pregnancy are greater than the risks associated with being born (McDonnell 2011). It is recommended that women be actively involved and informed in decision-making for induction, and that they be provided with clear information regarding the risks of continuing the pregnancy and awaiting the spontaneous onset of labour versus the risks of the intervention of induction (Queensland Health 2025; SA Health 2021; WHO 2022a).
Maternal factors such as wellbeing, cervical assessment, parity and previous mode of delivery, and fetal factors such as gestational age, growth and wellbeing of the fetus need to be considered when deciding whether labour should be induced (McCarthy and Kenny 2014). These factors also assist in determining the method of induction, which can be surgical (including artificial rupture of membranes) and/or medical (including use of prostaglandins and/or oxytocin) (RANZCOG 2021a; Queensland Health 2025).
There are numerous indications for induction of labour. Prolonged pregnancy is the most common indication, with births after 41 and 42 weeks associated with increased risks for the baby and perinatal death (Muglu et al. 2019). It is widely recommended that induction be offered to women with pregnancies continuing beyond 41 weeks gestation (Queensland Health 2025; Middleton et al. 2020; SA Health 2021; WHO 2022a).
Whilst most women who have induced labour – and their babies – do well, induction of labour may increase the risk of a less positive birth experience, emotional distress, some infections, and bleeding when compared to spontaneous labour (ALSWH and CWHR 2023; Coates et al. 2020; SA Health 2021). There is evidence that induction also increases the risk of emergency caesarean section (Butler et al. 2024; Grivell et al. 2012; Hu et al. 2024). However, some recent research suggests that induction of labour may not increase the risk of caesarean section in certain cases at later gestation stages, particularly after 41 weeks (Grobman et al. 2018; Keulen et al 2019; Middleton et al. 2020; Wennerholm et al. 2019).
Indicator specifications and data
Excel source data tables are available from Data.
For more information, refer to Data specifications and Methods.
ALSWH (Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health) and CWHR (the Centre for Women’s Health Research (2023) ‘Submission No 239: Inquiry into Birth Trauma’, submission to the Select Committee on Birth Trauma, Parliament of NSW.
Butler SE, Wallace EM, Bisits A, Selvaratnam RJ and Davey M (2024) ‘Induction of labor and cesarean birth in lower‐risk nulliparous women at term: A retrospective cohort study’ Birth, 51(3):521–529, doi:10.1111/birt.12806.
Coates D, Makris A, Catling C, Henry A, Scarf V, Watts N, Fox D, Thirukumar P, Wong V, Russell H and Homer C (2020) ‘A systematic scoping review of clinical indications for induction of labour’, PLOS One, 15(1): e0228196, doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0228196.
Grivell RM, Reilly AJ, Oakey H, Chan A and Dodd JM (2012) ‘Maternal and neonatal outcomes following induction of labour: a cohort study’, ACTA Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica, 91(2):198-203, doi:10.1111/j.1600-0412.2011.01298.x.
Grobman WA, Rice MM, Reddy UM, Tita A, Silver RM, Mallett G and Hill K (2018) ‘Labor induction versus expectant management in low-risk nulliparous women’, New England Journal of Medicine, 379(6):513–523, doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1800566.
Hu Y, Homer CSE, Ellwood D, Slavin V, Vogel JP, Enticott J and Callander, EJ (2024) ‘Likelihood of primary cesarean section following induction of labor in singleton cephalic pregnancies at term, compared with expectant management: An Australian population‐based, historical cohort study’, Acta Obstetricia Et Gynecologica Scandinavica, 103(5):946–954, doi:10.1111/aogs.14785.
Keulen JK, Bruinsma A, Kortekaas JC, Van Dillen J, Bossuyt PM, Oudijk MA, Duijnhoven RG, Van Kaam AH, Vandenbussche FP, Van Der Post JA, Mol BW and De Miranda E (2019) ‘Induction of labour at 41 weeks versus expectant management until 42 weeks (INDEX): multicentre, randomised non-inferiority trial’, BMJ, l344, doi:10.1136/bmj.l344.
McCarthy FP and Kenny LC (2014) ‘Induction of labour’, Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Reproductive Medicine, 24(1):9–15, doi:10.1016/j.ogrm.2013.11.004.
McDonnell R (2011) ‘Induction of labour’, O&G Magazine, 13(3):62–4.
Middleton P, Shepherd E, Morris J, Crowther CA and Gomersall C (2020) ‘Induction of labour at or beyond 37 weeks’ gestation’, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 7:CD004945, doi:10.1002/14651858.CD004945.pub5.
Muglu J, Rather H, Arroyo-Manzano D, Bhattacharya S, Balchin I, Khalil A, Thilaganathan B, Khan KS, Zamora J and Thangaratinam S (2019) ‘Risks of stillbirth and neonatal death with advancing gestation at term: A systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies of 15 million pregnancies’, PLoS Medicine, 16(7):e1002838, doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1002838.
Queensland Health (2025) ‘Queensland Clinical Guideline: Induction of labour’, Queensland Health, Queensland Government, accessed 15 September 2025.
RANZCOG (Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists) (2021a) Induction of labour, RANZCOG, accessed 17 August 2022.
SA Health (2021) ‘South Australian Perinatal Practice Guideline: Induction and Augmentation of Labour’, Department for Health and Wellbeing, SA Health, Government of South Australia, accessed 30 May 2024.
Wennerholm U, Saltvedt S, Wessberg A, Alkmark M, Bergh C, Wendel SB, Fadl H, Jonsson M, Ladfors L, Sengpiel V, Wesström J, Wennergren G, Wikström A, Elden H, Stephansson O and Hagberg H (2019) ‘Induction of labour at 41 weeks versus expectant management and induction of labour at 42 weeks (SWEdish Post-term Induction Study, SWEPIS): multicentre, open label, randomised, superiority trial’, BMJ, l6131, doi:10.1136/bmj.l6131.
WHO (2022a) ‘WHO recommendations on induction of labour, at or beyond term’, WHO, accessed 11 September 2025.