All diabetes
In 2007–08, an estimated 898,800 Australians had been told by a doctor or a nurse that they had diabetes at some time in their lives, based on self-reported data. Of these:
- around 87,100 people (10%) had Type 1 diabetes, and
- around 787,500 people (87%) had Type 2 diabetes (Figure 1).
For more information, see Diabetes prevalence in Australia: Detailed estimates for 2007–08.
Diabetes by state and territory
In 2007–08, an estimated 307,200 people with diabetes lived in New South Wales, 208,000 in Victoria and 178,900 in Queensland. Approximately 80,400 lived in South Australia, 77,900 in Western Australia, 19,100 in Tasmania, 17,400 in the Northern Territory and 10,000 in the Australian Capital Territory (Table 1).
Table 1: People ever diagnosed (a) with diabetes, by state and territory, Australia, 2007–08
| State of usual residence |
Number |
Proportion with diabetes in the population (%) |
| New South Wales |
307,200 |
4.5 |
| Victoria |
208,000 |
4.0 |
| Queensland |
178,900 |
4.4 |
| Western Australia |
77,900 |
3.8 |
| South Australia |
80,400 |
5.2 |
| Tasmania |
19,100 |
4.0 |
| Australian Capital Territory |
10,000 |
3.0 |
| Northern Territory (b) |
*17,400 |
*10.6 |
| Australia (c) |
898,800 |
4.4 |
* The relative standard error for this estimate is between 25 and 50% and should be treated with caution.
(a) Based on survey participants' self-reported information.
(b) Northern Territory estimates are only representative of non-very-remote parts of the Northern Territory because the 2007–08 National Health Survey sample excluded persons living in very remote areas. Such people account for over one-fifth of the population in the Northern Territory.
(c) Total diabetes includes people who did not know which type of diabetes they have but excludes gestational diabetes.
Source: AIHW analysis of the ABS 2007–08 National Health Survey National Health Survey Confidentialised Unit Record File.
For more information, see Diabetes prevalence in Australia: Detailed estimates for 2007–08.
The prevalence of diabetes increases with age
In 2007–08, approximately 96% of people with diabetes were 35 years old or more and 43% were aged 65 years or more (Table 2).
Table 2: People ever diagnosed(a) with diabetes, by age, Australia, 2007–08
| Age |
Number |
Per cent (%) |
| 0–34 |
32,600 |
3.6 |
| 35–39 |
32,900 |
3.7 |
| 40–44 |
43,400 |
4.8 |
| 45–49 |
64,600 |
7.2 |
| 50–54 |
80,300 |
8.9 |
| 55–59 |
133,400 |
14.8 |
| 60–64 |
125,000 |
13.9 |
| 65–69 |
127,100 |
14.1 |
| 70–74 |
94,300 |
10.5 |
| 75–79 |
76,500 |
8.5 |
| 80 and over |
88,800 |
9.9 |
| Total(b) |
898,800 |
100.0 |
(a) Based on survey participants' self-reported information.
(b) Total diabetes includes people who did not know which type of diabetes they have but excludes gestational diabetes.
Source: AIHW analysis of the ABS 2007–08 National Health Survey Confidentialised Unit Record File.
For more information, see Diabetes prevalence in Australia: Detailed estimates for 2007–08.
Trend of diabetes prevalence in the general population
Between 1989–90 and 2007–08, the age-standardised rate of diabetes more than doubled, from 1.5% to 4.1% of Australians (Figure 2). Over this period a number of factors have contributed to this, such as changed criteria for diagnosing diabetes, increased public awareness, ageing of the population and an increase in the prevalence of risk factors such as obesity and sedentary behaviour (AIHW 2008).
For more information see National indicators for monitoring diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes in children by state and territory
In 2008, the prevalence of Type 1 diabetes in 0–14 year olds ranged from 62 per 100,000 persons in the Northern Territory to 188 per 100,000 persons in Tasmania (Table 3).
Table 3: Estimated prevalence of Type 1 diabetes in children aged 0–14 years, 31 December 2008 by state
| State |
Number |
Number per 100,000 population(a) |
| New South Wales |
1,725 |
130.1 |
| Victoria |
1,441 |
146.1 |
| Queensland |
1,170 |
135.6 |
| Western Australia |
615 |
143.7 |
| South Australia |
460 |
157.6 |
| Tasmania |
183 |
188.3 |
| Australian Capital Territory |
107 |
171.2 |
| Northern Territory (b) |
31 |
61.7 |
| Australia |
5,732 |
139.6 |
(a) Age-standardised to the 2001 Australian population.
Source: AIHW analysis of National Diabetes Register (data extracted February 2011).
For more information, see Prevalence of Type 1 diabetes in Australian children, 2008.
Type 2 diabetes by state and territory
Of the 787,500 Australians estimated to have Type 2 diabetes, approximately 274,200 lived in New South Wales, 184,700 in Victoria and 154,000 in Queensland. About 68,900 lived in Western Australia and 68,800 in South Australia, 16,300 in Tasmania, 12,700 in the Northern Territory and 8,000 in the Australian Capital Territory (Table 4).
Table 4: People ever diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes by state or territory, Australia, 2007–08
| State |
Number |
Number per 100,000 population(a) |
| New South Wales |
274,200 |
4.0 |
| Victoria |
184,700 |
3.6 |
| Queensland |
154,000 |
3.8 |
| Western Australia |
68,900 |
3.4 |
| South Australia |
68,800 |
4.4 |
| Tasmania |
16,300 |
3.4 |
| Australian Capital Territory |
8,000 |
2.4 |
| Northern Territory (b) |
*12,700 |
*7.7 |
| Australia |
787,500 |
3.8 |
* The relative standard error for this estimate is between 25 and 50% and should be treated with caution.
(a) Based on survey participants' self-reported information.
(b) Northern Territory estimates are only representative of non-very-remote parts of the Northern Territory because the 2007–08 National Health Survey sample excluded persons living in very remote areas. Such people account for over one-fifth of the population in the Northern Territory.
Source: AIHW analysis of the ABS 2007–08 National Health Survey National Health Survey Confidentialised Unit Record File.
For more information, see Diabetes prevalence in Australia: Detailed estimates for 2007–08.
International comparison
Compared with other OECD countries, the estimated prevalence rate for diabetes in Australia was 5.7% (Figure 3). This was lower than the OECD average of 6.3%.
Further information
AIHW 2011. Diabetes prevalence in Australia: Detailed estimates for 2007–08
AIHW 2011. National indicators for monitoring diabetes
AIHW 2011. Prevalence of Type 1 diabetes in Australian children, 2008
AIHW 2008. Diabetes, Australian facts 2008
OECD (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development) 2009. Health at a glance 2009: OECD Indicators. Paris: OECD.
Definitions
- Prevalence
- The number or proportion (of cases, instances, and so forth) present in a population at a given time. The prevalence rate in this report is calculated by dividing the number of people with the disease by the average population in the same reference period.
Source data
Table 5: Prevalence of diabetes, 1989–90 to 2007–08 (per cent)
|
1989 |
1995 |
2001 |
2004–05 |
2007–08 |
| Persons |
1.5 |
2.4 |
3.3 |
3.7 |
4.1 |
Notes
1. Age-standardised to the 2001 Australian standard population.
2. Based on survey participants' self-reported information.
Sources: AIHW analysis of ABS National Health Survey 1989–90, 1995, 2001, 2004–05 and 2007–08 National Health Survey (Reissue) Confidentialised Unit Record File.