Dialysis
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In 2024, 16,000 people with kidney failure received dialysis (9,700 males and 6,300 females) (AIHW analysis of ANZDATA 2024).
The number of people with kidney failure who received dialysis more than doubled between 2003 and 2024.
In 2024, 83% of people with kidney failure who were receiving dialysis underwent haemodialysis, compared with 17% who used peritoneal dialysis (ANZDATA 2025).
Haemodialysis treatment location
A satellite facility has been the most common location to receive haemodialysis since 2000.
Dialysis is an artificial way to remove waste and excess water from the blood, and regulate safe levels of circulating agents (such as potassium, calcium and phosphorous) in the body, a function usually performed by the kidneys. It is most often provided to treat chronic kidney failure, but is sometimes needed in cases of acute kidney failure, where the kidneys have been temporarily damaged due to illness or injury.
For more information, see What is dialysis?
Variation by age and sex
In 2024, 16,000 people with kidney failure received dialysis (9,700 males and 6,300 females).
The number of males who received dialysis was higher than the number of females in all age groups, both peaking in the 65–74 age group (2,400 men and 1,700 women). The number of people with kidney failure receiving dialysis reduced sharply in people aged 85 and over (Figure 1).
Figure 1: Prevalence of kidney failure with dialysis, by age and sex, 2024
In 2024, the difference between the number of men and women receiving dialysis was least in younger age groups (below 45).
| Age group | Males | Females |
|---|---|---|
| 0–24 | 103 | 91 |
| 25–34 | 278 | 267 |
| 35–44 | 637 | 567 |
| 45–54 | 1309 | 938 |
| 55–64 | 2126 | 1408 |
| 65–74 | 2376 | 1657 |
| 75–84 | 2368 | 1189 |
| 85+ | 483 | 227 |
Note: The prevalent population includes people with kidney failure who were receiving dialysis as at 31 December 2024.
Source:
AIHW analysis of the Australia and New Zealand Dialysis and Transplant Registry 2024
Trends over time
The number of people with kidney failure who received dialysis more than doubled between 2003 and 2024, from 7,700 to 16,000 (AIHW analysis of ANZDATA 2024).
Dialysis type
Haemodialysis is the most common type of dialysis received by people with kidney failure.
In 2024, 83% of people with kidney failure who were receiving dialysis underwent haemodialysis, compared with 17% who used peritoneal dialysis (ANZDATA 2025).
Haemodialysis treatment location
In 2024, 64% of people with kidney failure receiving haemodialysis were treated in satellite facilities, with 28% treated in hospital and 7.7% at home. A satellite facility has been the most common location to receive haemodialysis since 2000 (Figure 2).
This reflects changes in the kidney care landscape, with the expansion of satellite kidney care centres, to better meet the needs of the population with kidney failure.
The number of people with kidney failure receiving haemodialysis has risen across all dialysis locations. From 2000 to 2024, numbers increased:
- by 288% for satellite haemodialysis care, from 2,200 to 8,600
- by 116% for hospital haemodialysis, from 1,700 to 3,700
- by 38% for home haemodialysis, from 741 to 1,025.
Figure 2: Trends in prevalence of kidney failure with haemodialysis, by location, 2000 to 2024
There has been an increase in the number of people with kidney failure receiving haemodialysis and treated in satellite facilities since 2000
| Year | Hospital | Satellite | Home | Community |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 1723 | 2205 | 741 | |
| 2001 | 1808 | 2463 | 773 | |
| 2002 | 1993 | 2699 | 780 | |
| 2003 | 2081 | 3013 | 778 | |
| 2004 | 2083 | 3322 | 802 | |
| 2005 | 2307 | 3652 | 820 | |
| 2006 | 2366 | 3955 | 894 | |
| 2007 | 2318 | 4328 | 950 | |
| 2008 | 2350 | 4636 | 953 | |
| 2009 | 2372 | 4929 | 980 | |
| 2010 | 2373 | 5307 | 985 | |
| 2011 | 2459 | 5559 | 1011 | |
| 2012 | 2571 | 5650 | 1101 | |
| 2013 | 2637 | 5805 | 1142 | |
| 2014 | 2688 | 5956 | 1182 | |
| 2015 | 2743 | 6191 | 1193 | |
| 2016 | 2758 | 6481 | 1134 | |
| 2017 | 2803 | 6850 | 1048 | |
| 2018 | 2932 | 7134 | 1058 | |
| 2019 | 2990 | 7554 | 1071 | |
| 2020 | 3001 | 7924 | 1107 | 25 |
| 2021 | 3170 | 8235 | 1113 | 20 |
| 2022 | 3370 | 8360 | 1115 | 10 |
| 2023 | 3416 | 8549 | 1069 | 6 |
| 2024 | 3724 | 8555 | 1025 | 5 |
Source:
AIHW analysis of the Australia and New Zealand Dialysis and Transplant Registry
Kidney care units in Australia
Kidney transplants and dialysis are usually performed in specialised kidney units in hospitals, satellite facilities and transplant centres. Australia has more than 100 kidney care ‘parent’ units that are typically based in hospitals, and over 300 locations for dialysis treatment (ANZDATA 2022). It is common for parent units to be associated with one or more satellite units that provide access to dialysis and transplantation services, and to inpatient hospital care.
In 2019, an ANZDATA survey found that the size of kidney units varied considerably across Australia, with over half treating fewer than 250 patients, and the largest caring for well over 1,000 patients. Kidney transplantation was available in 40% of the units.
On average, each unit had 3 full-time consultant nephrology staff. Most units also had physician trainees, along with nurse practitioners, nurses, dietitians, social workers, pharmacists and transplant coordinators (McDonald et al. 2021).
ANZDATA (Australia and New Zealand Dialysis and Transplant Registry) (2025) ANZDATA 48th Annual Report 2024, ANZDATA, Adelaide, accessed 25 February 2026.
ANZDATA (2024) AIHW analysis of ANZDATA, accessed 25 February 2026.
ANZDATA (2022) ANZDATA 45th Annual Report 2022, ANZDATA, Adelaide, accessed 16 March 2023.
McDonald S, Hewawasam E, Hurst K, Irish G and Clayton P (2021) ANZDATA special reports 1: unit survey 2020, ANZDATA, Adelaide, accessed 8 April 2022.