Life expectancy, mortality and causes of death
In 2023 (or based on the latest year of data):
- Australia had the fifth lowest rate of mortality from Diseases of the circulatory system (heart attack and strokes) among the 38 OECD countries, at 155.6 deaths per 100,000 population (age standardised to the 2015 OECD population).
- Australia’s infant mortality rate (with no minimum threshold of gestation period or birthweight) was 3.2 deaths per 1,000 live births, lower than the OECD average of 4.2 deaths per 1,000 live births. Iceland experienced the lowest rate of infant mortality with 1.4 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2024.
- Australia’s life expectancy at birth was equal tenth highest with France at 83.0 years – above the OECD average of 81.1 years. The highest life expectancy out of the 38 OECD countries was in Switzerland, where people could expect to live 84.3 years at birth.
Health status and morbidity
In 2023 (or based on the latest year of data):
- Among the 38 OECD countries, Colombia (10.9%), Greece (10.0%), and Japan (9.6%) had the highest proportion of low birthweight babies in 2023. The proportion of low birthweight babies in Australia was 6.6% (AIHW 2026), around the same as the OECD average of 6.7% of total live births.
- In 2024 (or based on the latest year of available data) among those aged 15 and over, Australians were third most likely to perceive their health as ‘good/very good’ out of 37 OECD countries that supplied data. Canadians were most likely to perceive their health as ‘good/very good’ (86%, 2023), followed by those living in New Zealand (85%), and Australia (85%, 2022). Those living in Japan (37%, 2022) and Lithuania (49%) were least likely to rate their health as ‘good/very good’. The OECD average was 67% (‘good/very good’).
Long-term care
In 2024 (or based on the latest year of data):
- The number of beds in Australia’s residential long-term care facilities per 1,000 population aged 65 and over (46 per 1,000) ranked 12th highest, out of the 33 OECD countries with available data. This was higher than the OECD average of 40 per 1,000.
- Australia had 7.5 formal long-term care workers per 100 population aged 65 and over in 2023; seventh highest out of the 24 OECD countries providing data. The OECD average was 5.5 per 100 population with Norway having the highest, at 12.8 formal long-term care workers per 100 population.
- Australia had the second highest proportion (5.5% in 2023) of long-term care recipients in institutions (other than hospitals) for the population aged 65 and over, out of the 30 OECD countries with available data. The OECD average was 3.5%. Lithuania had the highest with 12% (2023).
It should be noted that definitions of long-term care vary between countries, and this may impact the ranking of Australia compared with other OECD countries (OECD 2023). Additionally, the OECD definition is not consistent with Australia’s own reporting of aged care measures.
Health risk factors
In 2023 (or based on the latest year of data):
- Australia was above the OECD average for litres per person of pure alcohol consumed by people aged 15 and over, at 9.8 litres per capita compared with the OECD average of 8.4 litres per capita. The highest amount of alcohol consumed of the 38 countries with data available was Portugal with 11.9 litres per capita, 2022), while the lowest was in Türkiye (1.7 litres per capita) (AIHW 2026).
- Australia had the 10th highest proportion of people aged 15 and over who were living with overweight or obesity (64% in 2022), out of the 21 countries that reported measured height and weight data. This was higher than the OECD average of 59%. Chile had the highest at 74% (2016).
- Australia had the sixth lowest proportion of daily tobacco smokers among people aged 15 and over (8.5% in 2022) for all 38 OECD countries, with Türkiye ranking highest at 28.3% (2022), and Iceland with the lowest at 5.6% (2024). The OECD average was 14.8%.
- Australia had the 12th highest proportion of regular users (at least monthly) of vaping products (also known as e-cigarettes) among people aged 15 and over at 5.7% (2022–23) of the 34 OECD countries with data on use of vaping products. New Zealand ranked highest at 14% (2024) and Austria the lowest at 0.7% (2019). The OECD average was 4.8%.
Pharmaceutical market
In 2024 (or based on the latest year of data):
- Total pharmaceutical sales per capita ($US purchasing power parity) were highest in Belgium, at $US 1154.3, out of 33 OECD countries with data available. Australia’s pharmaceutical sales were equivalent to $US 551.6 per capita (2022), lower than the OECD average ($US 662.4 per capita).
It should be noted that Australian data only relate to medicines dispensed under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme and do not account for medicines dispensed in hospitals or any over-the-counter or private sales. Inclusions vary between countries.
Remuneration of health professionals
In 2023 (or based on the latest year of data):
- Self-employed general practitioners in Australia had the second lowest annual income among 15 OECD countries, at around $US 128,395 (adjusted for purchasing power parity). This was lower than the OECD average of $US 167,857. The highest was Germany with $US 258,643, and the lowest was Israel with $US 103,996.
- Salaried hospital nurses in Australia earned the fourth highest annual income among 36 OECD countries, at around $US 84,423 (adjusted for purchasing power parity), in 2022. The highest was $US 130,017 in Luxembourg (2024), and the lowest in Mexico ($US 35,879 in 2024). The OECD average was $US 63,237.
- For self-employed specialists, the annual income in Australia was third lowest among 11 OECD countries, estimated at around $US 217,970 per year (adjusted for purchasing power parity). The highest was Luxembourg ($US 370,733 in 2015) and lowest was Israel ($US 198,101).
It should be noted that average salaries for healthcare professionals are converted to USD Purchasing Power Parities (PPPs) for private consumption to bring them in line with average earnings calculations across the OECD. Average salaries derived from the OECD Health Statistics 2023 (as is presented above) should not be compared with data from previous versions.
Health insurance
In 2024 (or based on the latest year of data):
- Australia was among 21 OECD countries (of all 38 OECD countries) in which 100% of the total population is covered by government or social health insurance for health care. The United States was lowest at 40% (2023), with the OECD average being 97%.
- Across 38 OECD countries, the proportion of the total population covered by private health insurance (the OECD refers to this as voluntary health insurance, which may be primary or in addition to government/compulsory coverage – duplicate, complementary or supplementary) was highest in Belgium, at 97% (2022). The proportion of the population covered by private health insurance in Australia was 55%, eighth highest of 31 OECD countries and above the OECD average (32%).
- Australia was among 22 OECD countries (of all 38 OECD countries) in which 100% of the population were covered by public or primary private health insurance. Sixteen did not have 100% coverage with Mexico ranked lowest for this indicator (78% of its population covered by public or private health insurance in 2023). The OECD average was 98%.
Waiting times for elective surgery
In 2024 (or based on the latest year of data), the median waiting times in Australia from specialist assessment to treatment differed from the OECD averages, with some procedures having shorter median wait times than the average, and others longer. These included:
- coronary bypass (19 days in 2023), sixth highest out of 14 countries that supplied data and below the OECD average of 27 days
- hip replacement (135 days in 2023), seventh highest out of 16 countries that supplied data and above the OECD average of 128 days
- hysterectomy (77 days in 2023), fourth highest out of 13 countries that supplied data and above the OECD average of 71 days.
For more information, see Admitted patient activity.
Key data gaps and data improvement activities
OECD data collection uses standardised frameworks, agreed definitions, and aligned methodologies across member countries to improve comparability. However, data availability and differences in definitions can still exist, for example, in how long-term care is classified, or lack of sex disaggregation for some indicators. This can make cross-country benchmarking challenging and create gaps in understanding health disparities. Improvements to data collection and reporting are continuously being made through collaboration with national governments and international bodies.
Additionally, the renewed OECD’s Health System Performance Assessment (HSPA) Framework, introduces new dimensions such as climate and health, environmental sustainability, resilience and digitalisation and serves as a comprehensive, future‑focused model for understanding how health systems perform by examining the resources they use, the activities they undertake, and the outcomes they produce. Work is also underway to strengthen a people-centred approach, through the OECD Patient-Reported Indicator Surveys (PaRIS) initiative focusing on patient experiences of people living with chronic conditions. The Australian Government continues to use different channels and opportunities to participate in data development that furthers strengthens Australia’s ability to shape global health policy discussions and align national reforms with best‑practice standards.
Where do I go for more information?
For more information on international comparisons of health data, see:
