Keeping track of our health is pretty important, right? Especially here in Australia, we’ve got a bunch of ways to check how we’re doing overall. This guide looks at the latest bits of info on our health status indicators, covering everything from how we feel about our own health to what we’re eating and our lifestyle habits. It’s all about getting a clearer picture of where we stand in 2025.
Key Takeaways
- Most Aussies reckon they’re in pretty good health, but chronic conditions are on the rise, with nearly half of us having at least one.
- Smoking rates are going down, which is good news, but vaping is becoming more common, especially among younger folks.
- Our diets aren’t always hitting the mark, with a good chunk of us not getting enough fruit and veg, and discretionary foods making up a big part of our daily energy.
- Diabetes and high cholesterol are issues for a fair few of us, and kidney disease indicators are also creeping up.
- There are some differences in health status across the states and territories, and how we’re doing with things like physical activity and alcohol consumption can vary too.
Understanding Key Health Status Indicators
When we talk about our health, it’s easy to get lost in the details of specific conditions. But before we get to that, it’s good to have a general idea of how we’re tracking. This section looks at some of the big picture indicators that give us a snapshot of the nation’s wellbeing.
Self-Assessed Health Status
This is pretty straightforward – it’s basically how healthy people think they are. In 2022, about 56% of Australians aged 15 and over reckoned they were in ‘excellent’ or ‘very good’ health. This figure hasn’t really budged much over the last decade, which is interesting. On the flip side, around 15% felt their health was only ‘fair’ or ‘poor’. Generally, younger folks tend to rate their health more positively than older Australians, which probably isn’t a huge surprise to anyone.
Prevalence of Chronic Conditions
Chronic conditions are those long-term health issues that stick around. In 2022, a significant chunk of us, about 49.9%, had at least one chronic condition. This is up from 42% a decade ago, so it’s something we’re seeing more of. Females aged 15 and over were a bit more likely to report having a chronic condition compared to males. As you might expect, the older you get, the more likely you are to have one of these conditions. It’s worth noting that mental and behavioural conditions, back problems, and arthritis are some of the most commonly reported chronic issues.
| Health Status | Percentage (2022) |
|---|---|
| At least one chronic condition | 49.9% |
| Mental and behavioural conditions | 26.1% |
| Back problems | 15.7% |
| Arthritis | 14.5% |
Long-Term Health Conditions
This is a bit broader than just ‘chronic conditions’. In 2021, over 8 million people reported having a long-term health condition. Some people had more than one, with over 770,000 people reporting three or more. It really highlights how common these ongoing health challenges are across the country. Understanding these trends helps us get a better handle on the overall health of the population and where support might be needed most. For more detailed insights into chronic conditions, you can check out this report.
It’s easy to dismiss these numbers as just statistics, but they represent real people and real health journeys. Thinking about how we feel about our own health and the presence of ongoing conditions gives us a starting point for understanding our personal health status.
Lifestyle Behaviours Impacting Health
When we talk about staying healthy, it’s not just about what we eat or if we go to the doctor. Our daily habits, the things we do without even thinking, play a massive role. Let’s break down some of the big ones that affect us all.
Smoking and Vaping Trends
Smoking rates have been dropping, which is good news. Back in 2001, about 22.4% of adults were daily smokers, but by 2022, that number was down to 10.6%. That’s a pretty big shift. However, vaping is a newer thing, and we’re seeing more people, especially younger adults, giving it a go. In 2022, about 14.4% of adults had tried e-cigarettes or vaping devices. It’s still early days to know all the long-term effects, but it’s definitely something to keep an eye on.
Alcohol Consumption Patterns
Most Aussies are pretty sensible with their drinks, but a fair few aren’t. In 2022, over a quarter of adults (26.8%) were drinking more than the recommended guidelines. This was more common in men (35.8%) than women (18.1%). Young adults, aged 18-24, were also a bit heavy-handed, with over a third (36.1%) exceeding the limits. Some areas are worse than others, with the Northern Territory seeing 31.1% of adults going over the limit.
Physical Activity Levels
Getting enough exercise is something many of us struggle with. In 2022, only about 23.9% of adults aged 15 and over were meeting the physical activity guidelines. That means most of us aren’t moving enough. It’s not just about not exercising, either; a lot of us have jobs that involve a lot of sitting. Almost half of employed adults, around 46.9%, said their workday was mostly spent sitting down. It really highlights how sedentary modern life can be, and it’s something we need to actively work against for better health. Focusing on lifestyle interventions, like getting more active, is really important for overall well-being, including mental health [8cbf].
It’s easy to get caught up in busy schedules and forget to move. Even small changes, like taking the stairs or going for a short walk during lunch, can make a difference over time. The key is consistency, not necessarily running a marathon every day.
Nutritional Health Status Indicators
When we talk about staying healthy, what we eat plays a massive role, right? It’s not just about feeling full; it’s about giving our bodies the good stuff they need to work properly. In Australia, we’ve got some interesting patterns when it comes to our diets.
Dietary Energy Intake
So, how much energy are we actually getting from our food? On average, Australians are consuming around 8,667 kilojoules per day. This figure has been pretty stable over the last couple of years. What’s interesting is where this energy comes from. Discretionary foods, you know, the treats and less healthy options, make up a significant chunk, about 38.5% of our total energy intake. It’s a good reminder that while we’re getting enough energy overall, the quality of that energy matters a lot for our long-term health.
Fruit and Vegetable Consumption
This is a big one for everyone. The general advice is to eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. Looking at the numbers, it seems like we’re not quite hitting the mark as a nation. For adults, only about 44.1% are meeting the fruit recommendation, and a bit over half are getting enough vegetables. Things are a little better for kids, with more than six in ten children meeting the fruit recommendation. However, when it comes to meeting both fruit and vegetable recommendations, the numbers drop significantly for both adults and children, with only about 4.2% and 4.3% respectively managing it. It really highlights a gap in our daily eating habits. For more details on what Australians are eating, you can check out the latest diets and nutrition report.
Sun Protection Behaviours
While not directly food, how we protect ourselves from the sun is also a key part of our overall health and well-being, especially in sunny Australia. It’s good to see that a decent number of us are taking precautions. In the warmer months, about 38.1% of people aged 15 and over used sunscreen with SPF30 or higher most days. Still, there’s room for improvement, as 6.9% of people reported getting sunburned in the week before the survey. Younger folks, between 15 and 24 years old, were more likely to get sunburned than older adults. It seems like a good habit to get into, especially during those peak sun hours.
It’s easy to think about nutrition in terms of just calories or specific nutrients, but it’s really about the whole picture. What we eat affects everything from our energy levels day-to-day to our risk of developing long-term health issues. Making small, consistent changes to include more whole foods and protect ourselves from environmental factors can make a big difference over time.
Specific Health Conditions and Risk Factors
Let’s talk about some specific health conditions and the things that can put you at risk. It’s not always about big, scary diseases; sometimes it’s the everyday stuff that adds up. For instance, diabetes is something many Australians are dealing with. In 2022, about 5.3% of us, which is around 1.3 million people, had diabetes. The rates were pretty similar between men and women. What’s interesting is that this number has been slowly climbing since 2001.
Then there’s high cholesterol. Back in 2022, roughly 8.4% of people, or 2.1 million individuals, reported having high cholesterol. This is also an increase from 2011-12 when it was around 6.8%. It seems like older Aussies are more affected, with nearly three in ten people aged 75 and over having high cholesterol.
Kidney disease is another condition we need to keep an eye on. In 2022, about 1.0% of Australians, or 246,200 people, had kidney disease. This prevalence has stayed pretty steady over the last decade. However, for those aged 75 and over, the rate jumps to one in twenty.
Here’s a quick look at how these conditions stack up:
| Condition | Prevalence (2022) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Diabetes | 5.3% | Slowly increasing since 2001 |
| High Cholesterol | 8.4% | Increased from 6.8% in 2011-12 |
| Kidney Disease | 1.0% | Stable over the last decade |
It’s worth remembering that lifestyle choices play a big part. Things like diet, activity levels, and whether you smoke can all influence your risk for these conditions. For example, having multiple risk factors can lead to more complex health issues, a concept known as multimorbidity. It’s a good reminder to look after ourselves day-to-day, as these habits can have a long-term impact on our health status. Staying informed about these conditions and risk factors is a key step towards better health outcomes for everyone across Australia.
Many chronic conditions share common risk factors. Addressing these underlying issues, such as maintaining a healthy weight and being physically active, can have a positive ripple effect on preventing or managing a range of health problems. It’s about building a foundation of good health habits.
It’s also important to note that if you have one or more chronic conditions, you’re much more likely to be dispensed medications through the PBS. In 2022, over eight in ten people with chronic conditions received at least one PBS medication. This highlights how common ongoing health management is in Australia. For more detailed information on health behaviours and conditions, the National Health Survey is a great resource to check out National Health Survey.
Health Status Indicators Across Australia
When we look at health across Australia, it’s not a one-size-fits-all picture. Different states and territories show varying patterns in health indicators, which is pretty interesting when you think about it. For instance, Tasmania seems to have a higher rate of people living with chronic conditions compared to other places. On the flip side, folks in the ACT are more likely to have never smoked and less likely to be current daily smokers.
Medication use also tells a story. In 2022, a good chunk of Australians, about seven in ten, were dispensed at least one medication through the PBS in the six months around their health survey interview. This number jumps up significantly for those with chronic conditions, with over eight in ten using PBS medications. It really highlights how common ongoing health management is.
Let’s break down some specific state and territory findings from 2022:
- New South Wales (NSW): Almost half of adults there met the fruit intake recommendation.
- Victoria: More adults met physical activity guidelines in 2022 compared to 2017-18.
- Northern Territory (NT), Western Australia (WA), Queensland, and South Australia (SA): Around three in ten adults in these states exceeded the Australian Adult Alcohol Guideline.
It’s also worth noting that arthritis is a common condition, with about 14.5% of people reporting it in 2022. This is just one piece of the puzzle when we consider the overall health landscape of the country. Understanding these differences helps us see where support might be needed most and how different lifestyles play out across the nation. It’s a complex but important area to keep an eye on as we track Australia’s health over time.
Children’s Health Status Indicators
When we talk about health in Australia, it’s not just about us adults, is it? We’ve got to look at the little ones too. How are the kids tracking health-wise in 2025? It’s a big question, and there are a few key areas we can look at.
Childhood Overweight and Obesity
This is a bit of a persistent issue. Back in 2017-18, about a quarter of kids aged 5 to 17 were found to be overweight or obese. It’s a number that’s been on the radar for a while, and it’s something many parents and health professionals are keeping an eye on. It’s not just about weight, though; it’s linked to other health problems down the track.
Children’s Dietary Habits
What kids eat really matters. We’re talking about things like how much fruit and veg they’re getting. In 2022, the stats showed that only about 4.2% of children met both the fruit and vegetable recommendations. That’s pretty low, isn’t it? On the flip side, more than six in ten kids were meeting the fruit recommendation, which is better, but still leaves room for improvement. Then there are sugary drinks – a fair chunk of kids, around 45% of those aged 2-17, were having them at least once a week.
Breastfeeding Practices
Breastfeeding is another important indicator for early childhood health. By 2022, most children, about 90.6% of those aged 0-3, had been breastfed at some point. However, the number who were exclusively breastfed for the first six months was around 37.5%. Getting kids onto solids at the right time is also part of this picture, with about two-thirds of babies introduced to solids at six months or later.
Looking at these numbers, it’s clear that encouraging healthy eating habits and supporting breastfeeding are big priorities for Australia’s younger generation.
Wrapping Up: Your Health Snapshot
So, looking at all these numbers, it’s clear that keeping an eye on our health is a good idea. We’ve seen that things like smoking rates are dropping, which is great news. But then you look at stuff like chronic conditions and weight, and it seems like we’ve still got a fair bit of work to do as a nation. It’s not about stressing over every single statistic, but more about being aware. Knowing that, say, a good chunk of us aren’t hitting those fruit and veg targets, or that alcohol guidelines are being missed by many, gives us a starting point. Maybe it’s a nudge to check in with your doctor, or just to think about that extra serve of veggies. Ultimately, understanding these health indicators helps us all make better choices for ourselves and our families.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do Australians generally feel about their own health?
Most Aussies reckon they’re doing pretty well health-wise, with over half saying their health is excellent or very good. However, about 15% feel their health is just okay or not so good. Generally, younger folks tend to rate their health higher than older people.
How common are long-term health problems in Australia?
Sadly, chronic conditions are on the rise. Nearly half of us now have at least one long-term health issue, which is up from a decade ago. Women are a bit more likely to have a chronic condition than men, and it becomes more common as people get older.
What’s happening with smoking and vaping in Australia?
It’s good news that fewer Aussies are lighting up! Only about one in ten adults are daily smokers now, a big drop from the early 2000s. But, vaping is becoming more popular, with about one in seven adults having tried e-cigarettes.
How are Aussies eating, and are they getting enough nutrients?
Many of us aren’t eating as well as we should. While we’re getting enough energy overall, a lot of it comes from foods that aren’t the healthiest. Not enough people are hitting the mark for eating enough fruit and veggies.
What are the latest figures on conditions like diabetes and kidney disease?
Diabetes is becoming more common, with about one in twenty people having it. Also, more Aussies are showing signs of kidney problems than ten years ago. High cholesterol is also a concern for nearly a third of adults.
What are the main health concerns for children in Australia?
Kids’ health isn’t perfect either. About a quarter of children aged 5 to 17 are overweight or obese. While many babies get breast milk, not all are exclusively breastfed for the recommended six months. Plus, not enough kids are eating the right amount of fruits and vegetables.
