The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) has released its Australia’s Health 2026 report, revealing that life expectancy has increased but chronic diseases affect the majority, dementia is now the leading cause of death, and mental illness is rising among young people.
Life Expectancy and Health Span
Life expectancy for a boy born in 2022–2024 was 81.1 years, while a girl could expect to live 85.1 years. Newer data shows life expectancy stabilised and increased slightly in 2024 to 85.5 for women and 81.6 for men. Between 2003 and 2024, years lived in full health increased, but time spent in poor health also rose by 1.2 years for men and 1.5 years for women.
Chronic Conditions and Disease Burden
More than three in five Australians (61%) now have at least one chronic condition such as asthma, arthritis, or depression, and 38% have two or more. Cancer causes the most burden of disease, while mental conditions and substance use disorders are the second biggest cause of healthy life lost.
Dementia Becomes Leading Cause of Death
Dementia is now the leading cause of death in Australia, accounting for almost one in ten deaths in 2024. Dementia deaths rose by 39% in a decade, while deaths from coronary heart disease decreased by 18%.
Mental Illness Rising Among Young People
Sebastian Rosenberg from the University of Sydney notes that one in five Australians aged 16–85 (22%) had experienced a mental disorder in the previous 12 months. However, the proportion of people aged 16–24 experiencing a mental disorder increased from 26% to 39% between 2007 and 2020–2022. Mental illness accounts for 15% of the total burden of disease and suicide, yet mental health receives only 7% of total health spending. The number of Australians with psychosocial disability rose from 4.6% in 2018 to 6.5% in 2022, and half a million with severe or moderate needs lack support through the NDIS or other programs.
Cancer Survival Improving, Incidence Rising in Young
Sarah Diepstraten from the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute reports that five-year cancer survival rates increased from 50% in 1987–1991 to 72% in 2017–2021. Cancer incidence among people in their 30s has risen by 11.6% since 2000, primarily for colorectal and thyroid cancers, though actual numbers remain low at 135 cases per 100,000. Deaths from cancer among younger people declined by 38% since 2000.
Obesity Overtakes Smoking as Top Risk Factor
Kathryn Backholer from Deakin University states that excess weight and obesity have overtaken tobacco use as the leading risk factor contributing to disease burden. In 2022–24, 67% of adults (13.2 million) and 27% of children and adolescents (1.4 million) were overweight or obese. Among adults aged 25–34, obesity increased from 20% in 2011–12 to 29% in 2022–24. Urgent action is needed to create healthier environments and improve access to treatments, including GLP-1 medicines, which are often too costly for those most in need.
Risky Drinking Declines but Still High
Nicole Lee from Curtin University notes that Australians consume 9.8 litres of pure alcohol per person annually, well above the OECD average of 8.4 litres. Risky drinking has declined among First Nations people from 48% in 2010 to 33% in 2022-23, and in the general population. However, alcohol contributes to over 200 health conditions and is a preventable driver of chronic disease.
Health Spending and Access
Peter Breadon from the Grattan Institute explains that Australia spent just over $10,000 per person on health in 2023–24, 17% higher than a decade ago after inflation. Hospital spending rose from 39% to 42% of total health expenditure. Average out-of-pocket fees reached $1,634, nearly $200 more than a decade earlier. Eight percent of Australians delayed or avoided a GP visit due to cost, and 16% skipped dental care, where patients pay 61% of costs.
Unpaid Carers Under Pressure
Helen Dickinson from UNSW Sydney reports that in 2022, around 3 million Australians (one in eight) provided informal care, including 1.2 million primary carers. Unpaid carers save the economy an estimated $77.9 billion annually. However, 61% of carers reported poor wellbeing, 43% felt lonely often or always, and 36% experienced high psychological distress, compared to 34%, 12%, and 16% of the general population respectively. The report warns that without better-coordinated support, pressures on carers may intensify, and proposed NDIS reforms risk shifting more responsibilities onto families.
