Overview

Men and women have distinct health and welfare needs and concerns related to their gender and biological sex. This is illustrated by different rates of injury, illness and mortality; different attitudes towards health and other risks; the way each group uses health services; and differences in their health outcomes and wellbeing.

More reports and statistics on women can be found under Mothers & babies.

Latest findings

2 in 5 women were sufficiently physically active in 2017–18. The leading cause of total disease burden for females in 2015 was coronary heart disease. 1 in 2 men were sufficiently physically active in 2017–18 3 in 4 men were overweight or obese in 2017–18 The leading cause of death for females in 2017 was Dementia and Alzheimer disease. More than half of Australian men exceeded the single occasion risk drinking guideline in 2017–18 1 in 3 women exceeded the single occasion risk alcohol guidelines in 2017–18. 3 in 5 women were overweight or obese in 2017–18. The leading cause of death for males in 2017 was coronary heart disease Fewer than 1 in 10 women ate the recommended amount of fruit and vegetables in 2017–18. Males accounted for more than half (53%) of total disease burden in 2015 Fewer than 1 in 30 men ate the recommended amount of fruit and vegetables in 2017–18 Around 1 in 2 Australian males had 1 or more of the 10 selected chronic conditions in 2017–18 Almost half of Australian females (49%) had 1 or more of the 10 selected chronic conditions in 2017–18.

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Highlights

Femalesborn in 2015–17 can expect to live 4.1 years longer than males — 84.6 compared with 80.5 years
59%of women and 50% of men aged 18 years and over were insufficiently active in 2017–18
2 in 3people in permanent residential aged care in 2014 were women
Malesaccounted for 62% of premature deaths in 2017
49%of females had 1 or more of the 10 selected chronic conditions in 2017–18 compared with 46% of males
30.7is the average age of women who gave birth in 2018
1 in 6women and 1 in 16 men have experienced physical or sexual violence from a current or previous cohabiting partner
Suicide rateamong ex-serving Australian Defence Force men was 18% higher than for all Australian men, after adjusting for age