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Australian Institute of Health and Welfare

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Deaths data are a vital measure of a population@s health and provide information on patterns of diseases that cause death, by population groups and over time. Examining death patterns can help…

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Heart disease remains leading cause of death in Australia • HRI

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Discover why heart disease tops the list as the leading cause of death in Australia, the major risk factors, and the vital role of research.

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All cancers in Australia

All cancers combined incorporates ICD-10 cancer codes C00-C96 (Malignant neoplasms of specific sites) with mortality also incorporating C97, D45 (Polycythaemia), D46 (Myelodysplastic syndromes), and D47.1, D47.3, D47.4 and D47.5 (Myeloproliferative diseases); but excludes basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the skin. BCC and SCC, the most common skin cancers, are not notifiable diseases in Australia and are not reported in the Australian Cancer Database.

New cases

In 2017, there were 139,413 new cases of cancer diagnosed in Australia (76,798 males and 62,615 females). In 2021, it is estimated that 150,782 new cases of cancer will be diagnosed in Australia (80,371 males and 70,411 females). It is estimated that around 2 in 5 people (or 43%) will be diagnosed with cancer by the age of 85.

Figure 1. Estimated most common cancers diagnosed, 2021
Notes
In 2017, the age-standardised incidence rate was 492 cases per 100,000 persons (565 for males and 430 for females). In 2021, it is estimated that the age-standardised incidence rate will reduce to 486 cases per 100,000 persons (537 for males and 444 for females). The incidence rate for all cancers combined is expected to increase with age, peaking at age group 85-89 years.

Figure 2. Age-standardised incidence rates for all cancers combined, 1982 to 2017, by sex
Notes
The number of new cases of cancer diagnosed increased from 47,466 (25,423 males and 22,043 females) in 1982 to 139,413 in 2017. Over the same period, the age-standardised incidence rate increased from 384 cases per 100,000 persons (473 for males and 328 for females) in 1982 to 492 cases per 100,000 persons in 2017.

Deaths

In 2019, there were 49,035 deaths from cancer in Australia (27,699 males and 21,336 females). In 2021, it is estimated that there will be 49,221 deaths (27,600 males and 21,621 females). In 2021, it is estimated that a person has a 1 in 6 (or 16%) risk of dying from cancer by the age of 85 (1 in 6 or 18% for males and 1 in 7 or 13% for females). The estimated 10 most common causes of cancer death in 2021 are shown in Figure 3.

Figure 3. Estimated most common causes of cancer death, 2021
Notes
In 2019, the age-standardised mortality rate was 156 deaths per 100,000 persons (193 for males and 126 for females). In 2021, it is estimated that the age-standardised mortality rate will be 149 deaths per 100,000 persons (182 for males and 122 for females). The mortality rate for all cancers combined is expected to increase with age.

Figure 4. Age-standardised mortality rates for all cancers combined, 1982 to 2019, by sex
Notes
The number of cancer deaths increased from 24,915 (14,199 males and 10,716 females) in 1982 to 49,035 in 2019. Over the same period, the age-standardised mortality rate decreased from 209 deaths per 100,000 persons (279 for males and 161 for females) in 1982 to 156 deaths per 100,000 persons in 2019.

Survival

In 2013-2017, individuals diagnosed with cancer had a 70% chance (69% for males and 71% for females) of surviving for five years compared to their counterparts in the general Australian population. Between 1988-1992 and 2013-2017, five-year relative survival for cancer improved from 51% to 70%.

Figure 5. 5-year relative survival for all cancers combined, 1988-1992 to 2013-2017, by sex
Notes
Prevalence

At the end of 2016, there were 117,529 people living who had been diagnosed with cancer that year, 456,978 people living who had been diagnosed with cancer in the previous 5 years (from 2012 to 2016) and 1,176,285 people living who had been diagnosed with cancer in the previous 35 years (from 1982 to 2016).

For more information on cancer data, see the NCCI website

The National Cancer Control Indicators (NCCI) are a set of indicators across the continuum of cancer care, from Prevention and Screening through to Diagnosis, Treatment, Psychosocial care, Research and Outcomes. The NCCI website allows users to see visual representations of data on each indicator through interactive charts.

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All cancers in Australia The following material has been sourced from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare All cancers combined incorporates ICD-10 cancer codes C00-C96 (Malignant neoplasms of specific sites) with mortality also incorporating C97, D45 (Polycythaemia), D46 (Myelodysplastic syndromes), and D47.1, D47.3, D47.4 and D47.5 (Myeloproliferative diseases);

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Key Evidence

65.8% of Australian adults are living with overweight or obesity

The prevalence of obesity among Australian men aged 65 to 74 years is 40.6%

In outer regional and remote Australia, the prevalence of overweight (including obesity) is 70.3%

Severe obesity (Class III, defined as BMI of 40 or more) more than doubled from 2.2% in 2007-08 to 4.6% in 2022-23

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Obesity trends in Australian adults | Obesity Evidence Hub

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Two-thirds of Australian adults are now overweight (35.6%) or obese (31.3%).

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E-cigarettes, otherwise known as vapes, are becoming increasingly popular, particularly amongst youths and young adults. E-cigarettes are not risk free and can cause harmful health effects and damage your lungs.

New regulations announced for vaping products:

On the 2nd of May 2023, Federal Health Minister Hon. Mark Butler announced changes to vaping products and an investment of $737 million in the 2023-24 budget to fund measures to protect public health from tobacco and vaping. These measures aim to help address the significant threat to public health caused by recreational use of vaping products. The proposed new reforms will ban the importation of non-nicotine vaping products however, nicotine vaping products will still be accessible via a prescription for smoking cessation.

What is vaping?

Vaping is the act of using an e-cigarette, or 'vape,' which are lithium battery-powered devices that use cartridges filled with liquids, or 'juice.' The liquids typically contain nicotine, artificial flavourings, and various chemicals, some of which have been shown to be toxic. The liquid is heated into an aerosol, or vapour, and inhaled into the user's lungs.

Vaping in Australia

It is illegal to use, sell or buy nicotine for use in e-cigarettes in Australia without a prescription. Except for Western Australia, each state and territory allows the sale of non-nicotine vapes and e-cigarettes products for those aged 18 years and over.* ​

Recreational vaping by youths and young adults has increased significantly in the last few years, exposing children and non-smokers to harmful health impacts. In 2023, 14.5% of Australians aged 14-17 years currently vape and this increased to almost 20% for Australians aged 18-24 years.1 Despite causing known health harms, vaping products continue to be used recreationally by young people. ​

*Evidence shows the vast majority of non-nicotine vapes contain nicotine which is illegal.​

What is in vapes?

Some vapes are designed to look similar to tobacco cigarettes, cigars, and pipes, while others resemble everyday items, such as pens and USBs. Even though e-cigarettes do not contain tobacco many liquids still contain nicotine, which is highly addictive, as well as other chemicals. These chemicals can be toxic when they are inhaled. Some are included to add a fruit, alcohol, or confectionary flavour to the product. In a pioneering study, funded by Lung Foundation Australia, Minderoo Foundation and the Scottish Masonic Charitable Foundation WA, researchers at Curtin University tested the chemicals and toxicity of 52 flavoured e-liquids available for sale over the counter in Australia ². The research unveiled a cocktail of chemicals which raise serious concerns about the safety of these products and their risks to the respiratory health of young people.

What is being done?

The federal reforms (once implemented) will protect young people from the harms of vaping products, and we congratulate the Australian Government for taking strong action. States and territories across Australia continue to tackle growing vaping rates by seizing illegal nicotine vaping products from stores, introducing educational material into schools and running health campaigns to highlight the health harms of vaping.

Vaping and young people

E-cigarettes can serve as a "gateway" to nicotine addiction and tobacco cigarette smoking. There have been many studies which found experimentation with e-cigarettes encouraged the use of tobacco cigarettes, particularly among young people. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, more than 1 in 5 (21.7%) young Australians aged 18-24 and 7.6% of 15-17 year olds have used an e-cigarette or vaping device at least. It's likely that these figures are under-reported because responses were provided by an adult living in the same household.

Research of e-liquids available to purchase over the counter in Australia found 1 in 5 contain nicotine, among a concoction of other toxic chemicals - all had inaccurate labelling. With the inclusion of fruit, alcohol and confectionary flavours, e-cigarettes are designed to appeal to young people. Experts are concerned these products will create another generation of nicotine addiction and a rise in serious health issues including lung disease and cancer.

Lung Foundation Australia has developed a suite of resources to fill the knowledge gap around vaping and e-cigarettes. These resources are designed by and for young Australians, educators and parents and carers, to arm you with accurate and evidenced-based information.

Smoking cessation

In some cases, doctors can prescribe nicotine e-cigarettes as a means of weaning off tobacco use. There is little evidence that using this method is successful in achieving this outcome. Nicotine e-cigarettes should be a last resort for smoking cessation when other strategies are unsuccessful. From 1 October 2021, the Australian government introduced further restrictions to limit access to the use of nicotine e-cigarettes among adolescents and young adults. This included requiring a valid prescription to import nicotine e-cigarettes and liquids containing nicotine.

Health impacts of vaping

Vaping is unsafe and potentially dangerous. While the long-term health effects are unclear, we do know that vaping in the short-term has been associated with nausea, vomiting, mouth and airway irritation, chest pain and heart palpitations. There is a common misconception that vaping is merely harmless water vapour - in fact, it's an aerosol made up of toxic particles.

These aerosols contain and emit many harmful compounds, including:

Formaldehyde and acrolein, which can cause irreversible lung damage

Propylene glycol, which is toxic to human cells

Nicotine, which is highly addictive and can harm the still-developing adolescent brain, particularly in areas that control attention, learning, mood and behavioural control.

In 2022, the Australian National University released a review of the international evidence on the harms of vaping. ​

The health harms associated with vaping include: ​

Nicotine addiction​

Intentional and unintentional poisoning​

Acute nicotine toxicity causing seizures​

Burns and injuries​

Lung injury​

Indoor air pollution​

Environmental waste and fires​

Dual use with cigarette smoking - increasing exposure to harmful toxins.³​

Additionally, vaping is associated with the uptake of cigarette smoking and can be considered a 'gateway' to further risk and health complications. ​

References

¹ Wakefield, M., Haynes, A., Tabbakh, T., Scollo, M., Durkin, S. (2023). Current vaping and current smoking in the Australian population aged 14+ years: February 2018-March 2023. Report prepared for the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care.​

² A Larcombe, S Allard, P Pringle, R Mead-Hunter, N Anderson, B Mullins. Chemical analysis of fresh and aged Australian e-cigarette. doi:10.5694/mja2.51280.​

³ Banks E, Yazidjoglou A, Brown S, Nguyen M, Martin M, Beckwith K, Daluwatta A, Campbell S, Joshy G. Electronic cigarettes and health outcomes: systematic review of global evidence. Report for the Australian Department of Health. National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Canberra: April 2022.​

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E-cigarettes and vaping - Lung Foundation Australia

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Learn more about e-cigarette and vaping and the potential long-term health risks associated with vaping, particularly for young people.

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Key facts

A chronic condition is an illness that lasts for at least 6 months.

Effective management of chronic conditions can help improve your overall health and wellbeing. It can prevent or delay complications and slow the progression of your disease.

If you have a chronic illness, you will likely benefit from having a team of health professionals involved in your care.

What is a chronic condition?

A chronic condition is an illness that lasts for at least 6 months. Many people living with a chronic condition need to manage their condition long-term.

Chronic conditions describe a range of health conditions, including:

chronic (ongoing) and complex conditions

mental illness

trauma

disability

genetic disorders

Chronic conditions can often lead to your health gradually getting worse. They can lower your quality of life and affect your independence.

What are some examples of chronic conditions?

Common chronic conditions in Australia include:

Chronic conditions can affect people of all ages. They become more common with increasing age.

How are chronic health conditions managed?

Effective management of your chronic condition can help:

improve your overall health and wellbeing

prevent or delay complications

slow the progression of your disease

What can I do to help manage my condition?

Learn as much as you can about your illness. Read widely, although be careful - not everything you read is true.

Learning about your condition will help you take control of your health and allow you to choose treatments that suit you. It will also help you ask the right questions of your doctor.

Being active in managing your condition and helping treat the symptoms can improve your quality of life.

Which health professionals can help manage my chronic health condition?

If you have a chronic illness, you will likely benefit from having a team of health professionals involved in your care.

Your doctor

Make sure you have a doctor who understands you and the way you live your life. Having one person who is central to your health care will make it much easier for you.

Ask your doctor for a Chronic Disease Management (CDM) plan. These plans provide a structured approach to managing your illness. They are agreed on between you and your doctor, and include ongoing care from a team of health professionals.

Specialist doctors and allied health care

Other healthcare professionals involved in your care might include specialists and allied health professionals. These may include the following.

A social worker, who can provide counselling and information about government and community support services. Speak with your community health centre about how a social worker may be able to help you manage your chronic condition.

A dietitian, who can provide expert nutrition and diet advice.

An occupational therapist to help you maintain, regain or improve your independence.

A physiotherapist if you have a problem with pain or movement.

A psychologist to help you deal with the challenges of chronic illness.

How else can I help manage my chronic condition?

Healthy lifestyle

Having a healthy lifestyle can help you to manage your chronic condition. A healthy lifestyle includes:

Medicines

Understand your medicines and take them as prescribed.

If you are taking medicines for long periods, have your doctor review them regularly to make sure they are still appropriate.

Can chronic conditions affect mental health?

Being diagnosed and living with a chronic disease can be challenging. Chronic illness can affect both your physical and mental health, as well as your social and work life.

When first diagnosed, you may feel a range of emotions, including shock, anger, sadness or confusion. Ongoing feelings of stress and distress can increase your risk of developing anxiety or depression. Stress may also impact your chronic condition.

Talk to your doctor if you feel like you are not coping. It may help to see a psychologist to help you adapt to the challenges of having a chronic illness.

Where can I get support?

There is plenty of help and support available to help you manage your chronic condition. Sources of support can include:

support groups and services

self-management programs

support for carers

Support groups

You can join a support group or online forum to chat with people who have the same chronic condition as you.

Many organisations have these and will give you information about the best way to manage your chronic disease. Some of these organisations are listed below.

Support services

You can find a list of resources to help manage chronic conditions on the Department of Health website.

Emotional support is available if you're stressed, anxious or depressed.

You can phone Lifeline on 13 11 14 (24 hours a day), or text or chat online.

You can phone Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636 (24 hours a day) or use the webchat support service.

Self-management programs

Self-management programs give you information and skills to help manage your illness. Contact your local government office or community health organisation to find one that suits you.

Support for carers

Carers of people with chronic conditions can also join self-management programs and support groups.

Carer Gateway offers emotional, practical and financial support and advice for all carers. Call toll free on 1800 422 737.

More information

If you need help finding support services, talk to your doctor or call healthdirect Australia on 1800 022 222 (known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria).

Last reviewed: September 2022

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A chronic condition is an illness that lasts 6 months or more. Learn to manage a chronic condition, including types of support that are available.

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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health

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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health

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The National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) is the national leadership body for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health in Australia. Our organisation provides advice and guidance to the Australian Government on policy and budget matters while advocating for community-developed health solutions that contribute to the quality of life and improved health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

We represent our members - 145 Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs) that operate in over 300 clinics across Australia, delivering holistic, comprehensive and culturally competent primary health care services. These ACCHOs are initiated and operated by local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. The sector is the largest employer of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across Australia, with well over half of its 6,000 staff being Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander.

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The National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) is the national leadership body for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health in Australia. Our organisation provides advice and guidance to the Australian Government on policy and budget matters while advocating for community-developed health solutions that contribute to the quality of life and improved health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

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Mental health is more than just talking about mental health conditions, like anxiety or depression.

Research shows that good mental health is linked to:

Mental health definition

Mental health is a state of mental well-being that enables people to cope with the stresses of life, realize their abilities, learn well and work well, and contribute to their community. It is an integral component of health and well-being that underpins our individual and collective abilities to make decisions, build relationships and shape the world we live in.

( World Health Organisation)

The mental health continuum

It can be hard to talk about mental health. Maybe your family and friends feel uncomfortable talking about it. Maybe you don't know where to start or how it relates to you.

We've developed the mental health continuum to help you talk about social and emotional wellbeing. It will give you the words to describe how you're feeling, and to ask how others are feeling. It can also help you decide what steps to take to look after your mental health right now.

Why a mental health continuum?

Our mental health can change gradually over time. We might start to feel unsettled, but move back to feeling healthy in a few days. Or we might move from feeling unsettled to really struggling. This is when we may need to seek professional support.

Many of us will experience a mental health crisis in our lives, but we don't stay in crisis. We'll move beyond the crisis into a period of healing and then another healthy period when we've recovered.

On this page we explain what each of these periods looks like and what you can do to maintain or improve your mental health.

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Mental health is a state of well-being where individuals can cope with the normal stresses of life and contribute to her or his community.

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Rheumatic heart disease affects an estimated 55 million people worldwide and claims approximately 360 000 lives each year – the large majority in low- or middle-income countries. 

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Rheumatic heart disease affects an estimated 55 million people worldwide and claims approximately 360 000 lives each year – the large majority in low- or middle-income countries. 

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Rheumatic heart disease is the most commonly acquired heart disease in people under age 25.