Introduction
Life expectancy reflects the overall health and well-being of Australia society. Life expectancy at birth measures the average number of years a newborn can expect to live if current mortality patterns continue throughout their lifetime. This indicator provides insights into population health, healthcare system effectiveness, and quality of life.
Life expectancy in Australia is influenced by healthcare access, lifestyle factors, socioeconomic conditions, and public health policies. Understanding these trends helps address key demographic challenges such as population ageing, healthcare system sustainability, and social welfare planning.
Data come from OECD health statistics, which compile harmonised mortality and population data from national statistical offices. These data are updated annually and provide comprehensive coverage of life expectancy trends by age, gender, and other demographic characteristics.
Life Expectancy at Birth
In 2023, life expectancy at birth in Australia fell to 83 years (-0.2 y/y), highlighting ongoing challenges in population health as mortality patterns remain relatively stable, with implications for healthcare system planning and resource allocation.
Life Expectancy by Gender
Life expectancy patterns vary significantly by gender, reflecting different health risks, lifestyle factors, and healthcare utilisation patterns. Women typically live longer than men in most countries, though the gap has been narrowing in recent decades.
In 2023, life expectancy at birth for women in Australia decreased to 85.1 years (-0.2 y/y), reflecting relatively stable patterns in women's life expectancy, with ongoing focus on addressing gender-specific health needs. For men, life expectancy at birth reached 81.1 years (-0.1 y/y) in 2023, highlighting ongoing challenges in men's health as lifestyle factors and healthcare utilisation patterns continue to influence mortality. The gender gap in life expectancy fell to 4 years (-0.1 y/y) in 2023, indicating a narrowing gap as men's health outcomes improve more rapidly than women's, reflecting changing lifestyle patterns and healthcare utilisation.
Life Expectancy by Age
Life expectancy at different ages provides insights into remaining years of life for people who have already reached certain milestones. This measure helps understand mortality patterns across the life course and informs retirement and healthcare planning.
For people aged 40 in Australia, remaining life expectancy fell to 45.9 years for women (-0.2 y/y) and 42.4 years for men (-0.1 y/y) in 2023. These patterns reflect relatively stable mid-life mortality, with ongoing focus on addressing health risks in this age group.
At age 60, remaining life expectancy reached 27.1 years for women (-0.2 y/y) and 24.2 years for men (-0.2 y/y) in 2023, highlighting ongoing challenges in later-life health as chronic conditions and age-related mortality patterns persist.
At age 65, remaining life expectancy decreased to 22.7 years for women (-0.1 y/y) and 20.1 years for men (-0.1 y/y) in 2023. These patterns reflect relatively stable retirement-age mortality, highlighting the importance of healthcare access and preventive care for older adults.
For people aged 80, remaining life expectancy reached 10.6 years for women (-0.1 y/y) and 9.1 years for men (-0.1 y/y) in 2023, reflecting relatively stable patterns in advanced-age mortality, with ongoing focus on quality of life and healthcare access for the oldest age groups.
Frequently Asked Questions
Several factors shape life expectancy in Australia:
- Healthcare access and quality: Availability of medical services, preventive care, and treatment options significantly impact health outcomes
- Lifestyle factors: Diet, physical activity, smoking, and alcohol consumption influence mortality patterns
- Socioeconomic conditions: Income levels, education, and living conditions affect health outcomes and healthcare utilisation
- Public health policies: Disease prevention, health promotion, and environmental regulations contribute to population health
- Demographic factors: Age structure, gender, and regional differences influence overall life expectancy patterns
- Environmental factors: Air quality, water quality, and living environment affect health outcomes
Australia's life expectancy of 83 years. For comparison, life expectancy in other countries:
- Japan: 84.1 years
- Switzerland: 84.3 years
- Spain: 84 years
- Italy: 83.5 years
- France: 83 years
- Germany: 81.1 years
- United States: 78.4 years
The gender gap in life expectancy reflects several factors:
- Biological factors: Genetic and hormonal differences may contribute to different mortality patterns
- Lifestyle factors: Men tend to engage in riskier behaviours, including higher rates of smoking, alcohol consumption, and occupational hazards
- Healthcare utilisation: Women often seek preventive care and medical attention more frequently than men
- Occupational risks: Historically, men have been more likely to work in dangerous occupations
- Social factors: Gender roles and social expectations influence health behaviours and healthcare access
In Australia, the gender gap in life expectancy is currently 4 years, with women living longer on average.
Life expectancy is calculated using current age-specific mortality rates observed in a given year. It represents the average number of years a person can expect to live if they experience the current mortality conditions throughout their lifetime. The calculation uses life tables constructed from death registration data and population estimates, compiled by national statistical offices and harmonised by international organisations like the OECD. Life expectancy at birth uses mortality rates for all ages, while life expectancy at older ages uses mortality rates for those specific age groups and older. This synthetic measure allows comparison across countries and time periods, regardless of population age structure differences.
Life Expectancy in Other Countries
Explore life expectancy data in specific countries — choose a country to see detailed analysis.
Methodology and Data Sources
All charts and indicators update automatically based on OECD health statistics, typically released annually once national statistical offices publish their final results. The data are derived from vital statistics registers and population estimates, harmonised to ensure comparability across OECD member countries. Life expectancy is calculated using current age-specific mortality rates, expressing the average number of years a person can expect to live if current mortality patterns continue throughout their lifetime.