Economic concerns were raised by more than 60 per cent of women who took part in a survey that sought the factors involved in their decision to delay having children.

Next came a woman's career being ''too important to me right now'' (40 per cent), not having found the right partner (37 per cent) and strong concerns about a baby delivering a ''loss of freedom'' (31 per cent).

An equal number of women 14 per cent apiece said they did not like what childbirth would do to their body, and that their partner was not ready for children. Four per cent of women said they were concerned they could not raise kids as they did not have sufficient support from their partner, while just 1 per cent said their partner ''doesn't want kids''.

Relationships Australia (NSW) chief executive Anne Hollonds said, ''The survey highlights the trade-offs, and sacrifices, women make to fit having children into their lives.

''For women, the key factors affecting their decision to have children are financial stability, career, loss of freedom and finding the right partner.''

The figures are drawn from a national Contraception, Relationships and Sexuality survey that took in the views of 1000 men and women in July. AAP