Osteoarthritis is a chronic and progressive condition that mostly affects the hands, spine and joints such as hips, knees and ankles. It is the most common form of arthritis and the predominant condition leading to knee and hip replacement surgery in Australia.

  • Cat. no: PHE 232
Findings from this report:

  • 1 in 11 Australians (9.3%) have osteoarthritis, approximately 2.2 million people in 2017–18

  • There was a 38% rise in the rate of total knee replacements for osteoarthritis from 2005–06 to 2017–18

  • 3 in 5 people who have osteoarthritis are female

  • People with osteoarthritis were twice as likely to describe their health as ‘poor’, among those aged 45 and over