Lyla Lindsey
Life expectancy in Australia has increased by 26 years since the early 1900s. In 2021-2023, life expectancy at birth was 81.1 years for males and 85.1 years for females, with the Australian Capital Territory recording the highest life expectancy for both sexes. The COVID-19 pandemic has had an impact on life expectancy in Australia, with a report from the Centre for Population showing that between January and August 2022, 129,000 people died, 17% higher than the average for that period.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Life expectancy at birth in 2021-2023 | 81.1 years for males and 85.1 years for females |
| Life expectancy in 2023 | 78.4 years |
| Life expectancy in 2000 | 70 years |
| Life expectancy in 2012 | 73 years |
| Life expectancy in the early 1900s | 55 years |
| Lowest life expectancy by region | Northern Territory for both males (76.4 years) and females (80.4 years) |
| Highest life expectancy by region | Australian Capital Territory for males (81.7 years) and the Australian Capital Territory and Western Australia for females (85.7 years) |
| Median age of the population in 2021 | 38.4 years |
| Projected median age of the population in 2031 | 40.1 years |
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What You'll Learn
Life expectancy at birth
The COVID-19 pandemic has also impacted life expectancy in Australia. Between 2019 and 2022, Australia experienced a sharp decline and slower rebound in life expectancy compared to peer countries due to increased mortality and premature death rates from COVID-19. The pandemic resulted in a temporary reduction in Australia's average life expectancy and a significant increase in death rates. Despite this setback, life expectancy in Australia is expected to continue its upward trajectory.
It is worth noting that life expectancy estimates can vary depending on the methodology used and the sources of data. The Australian Bureau of Statistics provides valuable data on life expectancy at birth, but other organizations like the OECD and the Australian National University also contribute to our understanding of this metric. Additionally, factors such as regional databases, mortality rates, and household surveys can influence the accuracy of life expectancy estimates, especially in countries with limited historical data or varying demographic factors.
Furthermore, the concept of healthy life expectancy is also important to consider. Healthy life expectancy in Australia increased by 4.29% from 70.0 years in 2000 to 73.0 years in 2012. This metric represents the number of years that a person can expect to live in full health, free from significant illness or disability. It provides a more nuanced understanding of life expectancy by focusing on the quality of life rather than just the duration.
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Life expectancy by region
Life expectancy in Australia varies by region and gender. In 2021-2023, the average life expectancy at birth was 81.1 years for males and 85.1 years for females, a slight decrease from the previous year. The Australian Capital Territory had the highest life expectancy for males (81.7 years) and females (85.7 years), while the Northern Territory had the lowest life expectancy for both genders (males: 76.4 years, females: 80.4 years).
Life expectancy data for Australia is collected by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) through the Death Registrations collection, which includes all deaths that occur in Australia, regardless of the person's usual residence. The ABS data is sourced from state and territory Registries of Births, Deaths, and Marriages, with information provided by relatives or acquaintances of the deceased or by an official from the institution where the death occurred.
The World Health Organization (WHO) also provides estimates for life expectancy in Australia, which are produced using multiple data sources, including national vital registration data, WHO technical programmes, United Nations partners, and scientific studies. These estimates are reviewed by WHO Member States and regional offices before publication.
Life expectancy rates can be influenced by various factors, including social, economic, and environmental conditions, as well as access to healthcare and health policies. Australia's overall life expectancy is higher compared to some other developed countries, such as the United States, which experienced a decline in life expectancy during the COVID-19 pandemic.
While life expectancy provides an important indicator of population health, it does not consider the quality of life or years lived in "full health". The concept of "healthy life expectancy" (HALE) aims to address this by taking into account years lived with diseases or injuries that impact full health. By comparing life expectancy and HALE, public health officials can develop policies and initiatives to improve overall health and wellbeing.
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Healthy life expectancy
Life expectancy has doubled worldwide over the last two centuries, and people are living longer across the globe. However, this does not necessarily mean that people are living more years in good health.
The top five risk factors for death in Australia in 2019 were high systolic blood pressure, dietary risks, tobacco use, high body-mass index (BMI), and high blood sugar. Additionally, a significant proportion of the gap between health span and life span is due to brain diseases, particularly dementia.
While life expectancy in Australia continues to increase, the health-adjusted life expectancy (HALE) has also improved. HALE is a measure that considers the time spent living with disease and injury. In 2011, the HALE of Australians at birth was 70.9 for males and 74.4 for females, indicating that a boy born in 2011 could expect to live 89% of his life in full health, while a girl could expect to live 88% of her life in full health.
It is worth noting that life expectancy data for Australia in 2023 is either estimated or provisional. The COVID-19 pandemic has also impacted life expectancy rates, with the US experiencing a sharper decline and a slower rebound in life expectancy compared to peer countries, including Australia.
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Life expectancy and COVID-19
Life expectancy has doubled over the last two centuries worldwide. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted this positive trend. During the first two years of the pandemic, global life expectancy fell by 1.6 years, with around 15.9 million deaths attributed to COVID-19 worldwide.
Despite this, Australia was one of the few countries to record an increase in life expectancy during this period, along with New Zealand. In 2021, Australians had a life expectancy of 83.4 years, up from 83.2 years in 2019. Women were expected to live until 85.6 years, and men until 81.2 years. This positive outcome may be attributed to Australia's response to the pandemic, which included measures such as mask-wearing and lockdowns.
However, more recent data from 2024 suggests a decline in Australian life expectancy for the second year in a row due to a spike in COVID-19 deaths. The overall drop in life expectancy was driven by a rise in COVID-19 deaths from 11,882 in 2020 to 15,982 in 2022. In 2022, the number of deaths jumped by almost 20,000, with almost half attributed to COVID-19. Despite this decline, Australians still have a higher life expectancy than comparable countries like New Zealand and the United Kingdom.
While life expectancy figures provide valuable insights, they represent a snapshot of the population as a whole and may not reflect individual experiences. Additionally, it's important to treat projected life expectancy figures with caution, as future medical breakthroughs and lifestyle choices can significantly impact lifespan.
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Life expectancy and migration
Life expectancy in Australia has been on the rise since the early 1900s, increasing by 26 years since then. In 2021-2023, the life expectancy at birth was 81.1 years for males and 85.1 years for females, a slight decrease from the previous year. Life expectancy varies across Australia, with the highest rates observed in the Australian Capital Territory for males (81.7 years) and the Australian Capital Territory and Western Australia for females (85.7 years). Conversely, the Northern Territory recorded the lowest life expectancy for both males (76.4 years) and females (80.4 years).
Several factors influence life expectancy in Australia, including migration patterns. Internal migration within Australia has led to a net loss of people from capital cities, with Darwin experiencing the highest outflow. This can impact the demographic composition and median age across different regions, which, in turn, can affect life expectancy rates.
Additionally, Australia's migration system and international migration play a role in shaping the country's population dynamics and life expectancy. A review of the migration system was scheduled for the first quarter of 2023, indicating its importance in managing population growth and life expectancy outcomes.
The COVID-19 pandemic also had a temporary impact on Australia's life expectancy and death rates. Between 2019 and 2022, Australia experienced increased mortality and a decline in life expectancy due to the pandemic. The pandemic disproportionately affected older individuals, leading to a reduction in average life expectancy. However, Dr Liz Allen, a demographer at the Australian National University, noted that this change in life expectancy does not reflect an individual's life prospects but rather a population-level shift due to COVID-19-related losses.
In summary, life expectancy in Australia has generally been on an upward trajectory, with regional variations. Migration patterns, both internal and international, influence demographic changes and can impact life expectancy rates. The COVID-19 pandemic caused a temporary setback in life expectancy, highlighting the sensitivity of life expectancy to external factors.
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Frequently asked questions
Life expectancy in Australia is high relative to other countries. In 2021-2023, life expectancy at birth was 81.1 years for males and 85.1 years for females.
In 2023, life expectancy in comparable countries was 82.5 years, which is 4.1 years longer than the US but shorter than countries such as Germany, Japan, and the UK.
Life expectancy in Australia has increased by 26 years since the early 1900s. Between 2000 and 2012, healthy life expectancy increased by 4.29% from 70.0 years to 73.0 years.
The COVID-19 pandemic temporarily reduced life expectancy in Australia and led to historic highs in death rates. Other factors include fertility rates, migration patterns, and regional demographics.
Life expectancy varies across different regions in Australia. For example, in 2021-2023, life expectancy was highest in the Australian Capital Territory for males (81.7 years) and females (85.7 years), while it was lowest in the Northern Territory for both males (76.4 years) and females (80.4 years).
