In 2018, just over half of Australia’s population—51% or 12.6 million people—were female. On average, Australian females experience different health outcomes than Australian males. Compared with males, females have a higher life expectancy and experienced more of their total disease burden due to living with disease rather than from dying early from disease and injury. They are more likely than males to experience sexual violence and to have multiple chronic conditions.

To learn more about the health outcomes of males, see The health of Australia’s males.

  • Cat. no: PHE 240
Findings from this report:

  • 3 in 5 women were overweight or obese in 2017–18.

  • Fewer than 1 in 10 women ate the recommended amount of fruit and vegetables in 2017–18.

  • 2 in 5 women were sufficiently physically active in 2017–18.

  • 1 in 3 women exceeded the single occasion risk alcohol guidelines in 2017–18.