People with disability in Australia 2026

Introduction

Health risk factors and behaviours – such as poor diet, physical inactivity, tobacco smoking, and excessive alcohol consumption – can have a detrimental effect on a person’s health.

Many health problems can be prevented or reduced by decreasing exposure to modifiable risk factors where possible. At the same time, people who were not exposed to health risk factors can still develop diseases. Also, if a person develops a disease after being exposed to health risk factors, it does not necessarily mean the risk factors caused the disease.

People with disability often have higher rates of some health risk factors that can be changed than people without disability. However, it can be harder for people with disability to make these changes. For example, they may need extra support to be physically active, or some medicines may increase appetite.

Figure RISK.1 provides an overview of all health risk factors and behaviours discussed on this page. More information about each risk factor is provided in the relevant sections below.

Notes:

1. Restricted to people aged 18 and over living in households.
2. People from CALD backgrounds are defined as those born outside of main English-speaking countries, and those who mainly speak a language other than English at home.
3. Numbers are rounded and randomly adjusted to protect confidentiality. Because of this, components may not add up to totals.

Fruit and vegetable consumption

Our diet, including sufficient consumption of fruit and vegetables, plays an important role in overall health and wellbeing. A good diet can contribute to quality of life, help maintain a healthy body weight, protect against infection, and reduce the risk of developing chronic conditions.

Health conditions often affected by diet include:

• overweight and obesity
• coronary heart disease
• stroke
• high blood pressure
• some forms of cancer
• type 2 diabetes.

Many people, including those with disability, do not eat enough fruit and vegetables for optimum health and wellbeing.

For both people with and without disability, fruit guidelines are met more often than vegetable guidelines. In 2022, based on self-reported data, adults aged 18 and over with disability were more than 6 times as likely to meet the fruit consumption guideline as to meet the vegetable consumption guideline. Among adults with disability, 44% ate enough fruit while only 6.8% ate enough vegetables. The numbers were 44% and 6.3%, respectively, for adults without disability (AIHW analysis of ABS 2024a).

Around half (53%) of adults with disability did not meet either fruit or vegetable consumption guideline (were eating less than the recommended serves of fruit and less than the recommended serves of vegetables each day). Similarly, 54% of adults without disability did not meet either guideline (Figure RISK.2).

Among children aged 2–17, those with disability were more likely to have inadequate fruit and vegetable intake than those without disability. Around half (47%) of children with disability did not meet either fruit or vegetable guideline, compared with 1 in 3 (34%) children without disability (Figure RISK.2).

The proportion of adults aged 18 and over who did not meet either guideline increased slightly from 2014–15 to 2022 for both people with and without disability. It rose from 49% to 53% for adults with disability, and from 48% to 54% for adults without disability (AIHW analysis of ABS 2024a).

For adults (aged 18 and over) with disability, consumption of fruit and vegetables varies by sex and age:

• Men (57%) are more likely than women (50%) to not eat enough fruit and vegetables each day.
• The inadequate intake of fruit and vegetables is highest for the 18–64 age group at 59%, compared with 43% for people aged 65 and over (Figure RISK.2).

Other demographic and socio-economic factors also play a role:

• Adults with disability from CALD backgrounds (47%) are less likely to have inadequate fruit and vegetable intake than those from non-CALD backgrounds (55%).
• Adults with disability who have a partner (51%) are less likely to have inadequate fruit and vegetable intake than those who do not have a partner (57%).
• Among adults aged 18–64 with disability who have completed a Bachelor degree or higher, 52% have inadequate fruit and vegetable intake, compared with 66% of those whose highest level of education is Year 10 or Year 11 (AIHW analysis of ABS 2024a).

Weight

Maintaining a healthy weight is important for good health. Not maintaining a healthy weight – such as being underweight, overweight, or obese – is a risk factor for lower life expectancy and the development of chronic conditions, such as:

• cardiovascular disease
• type 2 diabetes
• some musculoskeletal conditions
• some cancers.

Waist circumference

Based on waist circumference, adults with disability (76%) are more likely than those without disability (63%) to be at higher risk of developing chronic conditions (Figure RISK.3). 

Women with disability (81%) are more likely than men with disability (72%) to be at higher risk of developing chronic conditions, based on waist circumference. This pattern is also observed for people without disability (Figure RISK.3).

Older people (aged 65 and over) with disability are more likely (84%) than younger people (aged 18–64) with disability (72%) to be at higher risk based on waist circumference (Figure RISK.3).

Similarly to patterns by BMI, adults with disability who are from CALD backgrounds (69%), are not partnered (72%), or have a learning or understanding disability (66%) are less likely to be at higher risk than the overall adult disability population (76%) (AIHW analysis of ABS 2024a).

Body mass index (BMI)

Adults (aged 18 and over) with disability are more likely to have a BMI in the overweight or obese range (73%) than those without disability (62%). This comprises:

• 39% of adults with disability have a BMI in the obese range, compared with 28% of adults without disability 
• 34% of adults both with and without disability are overweight but not obese. 

In contrast, children aged 2–17 with disability are about as likely to be overweight or obese (25%) as those without disability (26%) (AIHW analysis of ABS 2024a).

While the proportion of adults who are overweight remained similar between 2011–12 and 2022, the proportion of those who are obese increased both for adults with and without disability. In 2022, 39% of adults with disability were obese, up from 35% in 2011–12. For those without disability, 28% in 2022 were obese, up from 24% in 2011–12 (AIHW analysis of ABS 2024a).

The proportion of people with disability who are overweight or obese varies between men and women, by age, cultural and linguistic diversity (CALD) status, and partnered status:

• Sex at birth: Men aged 18 and over with disability (76%) are more likely than women (69%) to be overweight or obese (Figure RISK.3). 
• Age group: Older people (aged 65 and over) with disability (75%) and adults (aged 18–64) (71%) are more likely to be overweight or obese than children (aged 2–17) (25%).
• CALD status: Adults aged 18 and over from CALD background with disability are less likely to be overweight or obese (62%) compared with those from non-CALD backgrounds (75%).
• Partnered status: Adults aged 18 and over with disability who have a partner are more likely to be overweight or obese (76%) than those without a partner (67%) (AIHW analysis of ABS 2024a).

The above patterns are also observed among people without disability.

Adults aged 18 and over with learning and understanding disability are less likely to be overweight or obese (60%) than those with psychosocial disability (69%), sensory or speech disability (73%) or physical restriction (75%). Rates are similar for adults with severe or profound disability (72%) and adults with other disability status (73%) (AIHW analysis of ABS 2024a).

Physical activity

Getting enough exercise is an important factor in maintaining good physical and mental health and wellbeing.

Many people, including those with disability, are not getting enough exercise. Based on self-reported data, more than three-quarters (77%) of adults aged 18 and over with disability in 2022 did not do enough physical activity (including at work) for their age. This was slightly higher than for adults without disability (74%) (Figure RISK.5).

People aged 65 and over, both with and without disability, are more likely to meet physical activity guidelines than people aged 18–64, most likely due to differences in the guidelines for the two age groups:

• 28% of people aged 65 and over with disability (42% without disability) had enough physical activity, compared with 20% of people aged 18–64 with disability (24% without disability) (AIHW analysis of ABS 2024a).

Among adults aged 18–64 with disability, the proportion getting adequate physical activity was lower for:

• adults with severe or profound disability (of whom 11% had enough physical activity), compared with adults with other disability status (21%) 
• adults with disability aged 45–54 (17%) and aged 55–64 (14%), compared with those aged 18–24 (27%), 25–34 (25%), or 35–44 (23%)
• those with lower levels of education – 12% of those with Year 10/11 as their highest level of education met physical activity guidelines, compared with 25% of those who completed a Bachelor degree
• lone parents with children under 15 (13% met guidelines) compared with those in couple families with children under 15 (22%), or those in couples without children (21%) (AIHW analysis of ABS 2024a).

Among older adults aged 65 and over with disability, the proportion getting adequate physical activity was lower for:

• older adults with severe or profound disability (of whom 10% had enough physical activity), compared with adults with other disability status (31%) 
• those aged 75 and over (23%) compared with those aged 65–74 (33%)
• older adults with psychosocial disability (15%), compared with those with physical restriction (24%), or sensory or speech disability (28%) 
• women with disability (24%), compared with men (32%)
• those in major cities (27%), compared with inner regional areas (34%) (AIHW analysis of ABS 2024a).

Blood pressure

High blood pressure – also known as hypertension – is a major risk factor for some chronic conditions including stroke, coronary heart disease, heart failure, and chronic kidney disease.

Risk factors for high blood pressure include:

• poor diet (particularly a high salt intake)
• obesity
• excessive alcohol consumption
• insufficient physical activity.

In 2022, among adults with disability:

• 43% (more than 2 in 5) have hypertension (Figure RISK.6), comprising
  • 29% with uncontrolled high blood pressure
  • 14% with controlled high blood pressure (AIHW analysis of ABS 2024a). 

This is far higher than for adults without disability, of whom:

• 26% have hypertension (Figure RISK.6), comprising
  • 20% with uncontrolled high blood pressure
  • 5.9% with controlled high blood pressure (AIHW analysis of ABS 2024a).

The prevalence of high blood pressure varies by age group and disability severity:

• both controlled and uncontrolled high blood pressure increase with age – adults with disability aged 65 and over are almost twice as likely (41%) to have uncontrolled high blood pressure compared with those aged 18–64 (22%), and more than 3 times as likely to have controlled high blood pressure (26% compared with 7.9%) – similar to patterns among people without disability
• adults with severe or profound disability are about as likely (30%) to have uncontrolled high blood pressure as those with other disability status (29%), but are more likely to have controlled high blood pressure (24% compared with 13%)
• there was little difference between men and women (AIHW analysis of ABS 2024a).

Tobacco smoking

Tobacco smoking is an important cause of preventable ill health and death in Australia. It is a leading risk factor for the development of many chronic conditions and premature death.

Health conditions often affected by tobacco smoking include many types of cancer, respiratory disease, and heart disease.

About 1 in 7 (14%) adults aged 18 and over with disability smoke daily (based on self‑reported data). They are more likely to do so than adults without disability (8.7%). 

Younger adults (aged 18–64) with disability are twice as likely (18%) to smoke daily as those without disability (9.0%). This is not the case for older adults (aged 65 and over). The proportion of daily smokers is 6.4% for both older adults with and without disability (Figure RISK.7).

Men aged 18 and over with disability are slightly more likely (16%) to smoke daily than women (12%) (Figure RISK.7), and women aged 18 and over with disability are more likely to have never smoked (56%) than men (42%) (AIHW analysis of ABS 2024a).

Adults aged 18 and over with disability are less likely to smoke daily if:

• their highest level of education is a Bachelor degree or higher (5.3%), compared with none or below Year 10 (16%), or Year 10/11 (19%)
• they have a partner (11%) compared with those who do not (18%).

Among younger adults aged 18–64 with disability, those in major cities (16%) were less likely to be daily smokers than those in inner regional areas (23%) or outer regional and remote areas (27%). This is consistent with patterns in adults without disability (AIHW analysis of ABS 2024a).

While the proportion of daily smokers has decreased for adults both with and without disability over the past decade, the gap has widened slightly. In 2011–12, 18% of adults with disability and 15% of adults without disability smoked daily, compared with 14% of adults with disability and 8.7% of adults without disability in 2022 (AIHW analysis of ABS 2024a).

E-cigarette use and vaping

While e-cigarettes and vaping devices do not produce the tar produced by conventional cigarettes, they can include a number of other known cancer-causing agents. Possible health risks associated with using e-cigarettes include lung disease, heart disease, and cancer. Evidence shows a strong association between vaping and future smoking behaviours. Research indicates that young people who vape, but have never smoked, are more likely to take up tobacco smoking compared to young people who have never vaped (Department of Health, Disability and Ageing 2025).

Based on self-reported data from the ABS NHS 2022, the use of e-cigarettes and vaping devices is more common among younger adults and declines with age:

• 1 in 5 (21%) adults aged 18–64 with disability are current or past e-cigarette users, slightly higher than those without disability (16%) (AIHW analysis of ABS 2024a)
• adults aged 18–34 with disability are more likely (8.2%) to be daily e-cigarette users than those aged 35–64 (3.2%) (AIHW analysis of ABS 2024b)
• most older adults aged 65 and older have never used an e-cigarette or vaping device (98% of those with disability and 99% of those without disability) (AIHW analysis of ABS 2024a).

Daily e-cigarette use is less common than daily tobacco smoking. Less than 1 in 20 adults aged 18–64 use e-cigarettes daily (4.6% of those with disability and 3.4% of those without disability), while almost 1 in 5 (18%) adults with disability aged 18–64 and 1 in 10 (9.0%) of those without disability are daily tobacco smokers (AIHW analysis of ABS 2024a). 

Alcohol consumption

Harmful levels of alcohol consumption are a major health issue and are associated with increased risk of chronic conditions and injury.

Based on self-reported data, more than 1 in 4 (27%) adults (aged 18 and over), both with and without disability, exceed the 2020 recommended alcohol consumption guideline (Figure RISK.8). 

Both single-day and weekly excessive alcohol consumption levels were similar for adults with and without disability:

• 20% of adults with disability drink 5 or more standard drinks in one day at least monthly, and 21% of adults without disability 
• 20% of adults with disability drink more than 10 standard drinks per week, and 18% of adults without disability (AIHW analysis of ABS 2024a).

The alcohol consumption of people with disability varies by sex, age group, and disability severity (Figure RISK.6).

Males aged 18 and over with disability are far more likely than their female counterparts to drink at risky levels:

• 37% of males exceed the 2020 alcohol consumption guideline compared with 18% of females
• 27% consume more than 10 standard drinks of alcohol per week, compared with 13%
• 28% consume 5 or more standard drinks of alcohol on a single occasion each month, compared with 12% (AIHW analysis of ABS 2024a).

Younger adults (aged 18–64) with disability are more likely (30%) to exceed the alcohol consumption guideline than older adults (aged 65 and over) (22%) (Figure RISK6). Younger adults with disability are:

• more than twice as likely (25%) to consume 5 or more standard drinks in a single occasion at least monthly as older adults with disability (11%).
• about as likely to consume more than 10 standard drinks per week as older adults with disability (20% compared with 19%) (AIHW analysis of ABS 2024a).

Adults with disability from CALD backgrounds (11%) are less likely to exceed the alcohol consumption guideline than those from non-CALD backgrounds (31%).

There is similar variation of alcohol consumption patterns by sex, age group, and CALD status among people without disability (AIHW analysis of ABS 2024a).

Adults with severe or profound disability are less likely (18%) to exceed the alcohol consumption guideline than those with other disability status (28%) (Figure RISK.5; AIHW analysis of ABS 2024a).