International comparison

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) presents comparative information on surgical procedures. The comparability of international surgical procedures may be affected by differences in definitions of hospitals, collection periods and admission practices.

This page provides information on Australia’s performance compared against the OECD average for selected indicators. The data reported by the OECD may be based on different reporting periods.

Proportion of surgeries performed on a same-day basis

A high proportion of cataract surgeries and tonsillectomies performed on a same-day basis may point to the efficient use of resources.

In 2024–25:

• the proportion of cataract surgeries performed as same-day procedures in Australia (98%) was higher than the OECD average (76%)
• the proportion of tonsillectomies that were performed on a same-day basis in Australia (25%) was lower than the OECD average (39%).

Number of caesarean sections per 100 live births

In 2024–25, Australia’s rate of caesarean sections per 100 live births (42.7) was higher than the OECD average (30.5).

Number of hip and knee replacement surgeries per 100,000 population

In 2024–25:

• Australia’s rate of hip replacement surgery was below the OECD average (176.9 and 196.1 per 100,000 population, respectively)
• Australia’s rate of knee replacement surgery was above the OECD average (216.9 and 146.1 per 100,000 population, respectively).

Proportion of selected surgical procedures that were performed laparoscopically

Laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery is less invasive (and therefore generally considered to be safer) than ‘open’ approaches.

In 2024–25, Australia had higher proportions of the 3 selected procedures that were performed laparoscopically than the OECD average:

• 96% of cholecystectomies in Australia were performed laparoscopically, compared with the OECD average (90%)
• 95% of appendicectomies in Australia were performed laparoscopically, compared with the OECD average (79%)
• 53% of inguinal herniorrhaphies in Australia were performed laparoscopically, compared with the OECD average (35%).