Australians are gaining years of life, but not always healthy ones

Australians are living longer than ever before, but many are spending those extra years managing chronic disease, dementia and mental illness, according to a new report that highlights the growing gap between lifespan and quality of life.

The latest Australia’s Health 2026 report from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) shows national life expectancy remains among the highest in the world at 81.1 years for men and 85.1 years for women.

Yet long-term illness is becoming increasingly common, with three in five Australians living with at least one chronic condition and two in five living with two or more.

University of Sydney associate professor Nicholas Chartres said longer lives are not necessarily translating into better health.

“Life expectancy has risen steadily over decades; however, chronic diseases account for most of the health burden in Australia with approximately 61 per cent of people living with at least one chronic condition and 40 per cent living with two or more in 2022,” he said.

“This means Australians live longer, but with poor quality of life.”

The report shows people aged 65 and over now account for 18 per cent of the population, up from 8.9 per cent in 1975–76. By 2065–66, that figure is projected to reach 24 per cent.

This means the number of Australians aged 65 and over will double from 4.8 million to 9.7 million over the same period, while the population aged 85 and over is forecast to more than triple from 603,000 to 1.9 million.

One of the clearest signs of the nation’s changing health profile is the emergence of dementia as Australia’s leading cause of death.

In 2024, dementia accounted for almost one in 10 deaths nationwide, replacing coronary heart disease as the country’s biggest killer.

Over the past decade, deaths from dementia have risen 39 per cent, from 12,641 in 2015 to 17,550 in 2024. During the same period, deaths from coronary heart disease fell 18 per cent, from 19,926 to 16,326.

“This marks the first change in Australia’s leading cause of death since the early 20th century, reflecting a change in patterns of illness and death as Australians live longer,” AIHW spokesperson Louise Gates said.

In 2024, cancer was the largest contributor to disease burden at 16 per cent, followed by mental health conditions and substance use disorders at 15 per cent, musculoskeletal conditions at 13 per cent, cardiovascular diseases at 12 per cent and neurological conditions at 8.4 per cent.

University of the Sunshine Coast senior lecturer Linda Gallo said many health conditions associated with ageing begin much earlier in life.

“Much of the burden of ageing-related disease begins decades before symptoms appear,” she said.

“Investing in the mental health and lifestyle behaviours of young Australians is one of the best opportunities we have to improve health across the lifespan.”

The report also found obesity has overtaken tobacco smoking as Australia’s leading risk factor contributing to ill health and death.

About 67 per cent of adults and 27 per cent of children and adolescents were living with overweight or obesity in 2022–24.

Experts said the growing burden of chronic disease points to the need for stronger prevention efforts.

University of Sydney research affiliate Dr Sayan Mitra said many chronic illnesses develop long before they are diagnosed.

“Australia cannot treat its way out of chronic disease, and acting as though it can will only make the burden larger,” he said.