The health of women in Australia

Women have unique biological characteristics and social experiences that can affect their health. The health needs, risk factors and outcomes experienced by women vary across the different stages of their lives. This article provides a summary of the health of women in Australia, identifying how health changes across the life course, and how health outcomes and risks vary across different populations of women.

The AIHW produces data and information across many key areas relevant to women’s health, which may not be described in detail in this summary. See women’s health topic page for more.

To learn more about the health outcomes of men, see The health of men in Australia.

Women’s health across the life course

A girl born in 2024 can expect to live to 85.5 years, on average. More than three-quarters (86%, or 73.8 years) of this will be lived in full health (meaning no disease or injury) (AIHW 2024a). As women age, there are different stages and events that affect their health, leading to changing health concerns (Figure 1).

Data on the health outcomes by broad age groups as presented in Figure 1 can be accessed in the data tables S2.1, S2.2, S4.1.

Health status of women in Australia

Burden of disease among women

Compared with men, women experience more of their total burden of disease from living with disease (non-fatal burden) than dying prematurely (fatal burden). In 2024, 60% of total disease burden in females was due to non-fatal burden and 40% was due to fatal burden. In contrast, 52% of total burden in males was due to fatal burden (AIHW 2024a).

The diseases that cause the most burden for females differ across the life course. Mental health conditions cause a larger proportion of the burden in younger women while chronic conditions, including musculoskeletal conditions and cancers cause more burden in older women (see Figure 1).

The burden of disease varies across different groups. For females in 2018, after adjusting for age the overall burden from disease was:

• 1.4 times as high in females living in Remote and very remote areas as females living in Major cities. The largest differences occurred in kidney and urinary diseases (4.7 times as high), infectious disease (2.4 times as high), and injury (2.4 times as high) (AIHW 2021)
• 1.5 times as high in females living in the most disadvantaged areas as females living in the least disadvantaged areas. The largest differences occurred in endocrine disorders (including diabetes) (2.9 times as high), and kidney and urinary disease (2.3 times as high) (AIHW 2021)
• 2.3 times as high in First Nations females as non-Indigenous females. The largest differences occurred in kidney and urinary diseases (10.1 times as high) and endocrine disorders (including diabetes) (4.2 times as high) (AIHW 2022).

For more extensive data on burden of disease see Burden of disease.

Long-term health conditions

In 2022, based on AIHW analysis of 72 selected long-term health conditions that could be identified from self-reported data in the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) 2022 National Health Survey (NHS) (AIHW 2025a):

• 61% of Australia’s females were living with at least one selected long-term health condition– slightly higher than males at 60%.
• Multimorbidity (living with 2 or more long-term health conditions) was slightly more common overall amongst females (39%) than males (37%).
• Women in the age groups 15–24, 25–44 and 45–64 were more commonly living with multimorbidity than males in the same age groups.
• Amongst younger adults, women were less likely to not have any of the selected long-term health conditions than men. However, among those aged over 45, women were more likely than men to not have any of the selected conditions.
• Anxiety and depression were the most commonly co-occurring conditions amongst women in all age groups, except 65 and over where osteoarthritis and back problems were more commonly co-occurring.

Anxiety disorders (23%), arthritis (21%) and back problems (18%) were the most common conditions reported by women in the 2022 NHS (ABS 2023c). Osteoporosis, migraine and anaemia were conditions more commonly reported in women than men (ABS 2023c).

Overall, the prevalence of chronic conditions for women increases with age. However, some conditions are more common at certain ages. For example, anxiety is less common as women age, while arthritis and back pain are more common with older age (Figure 2).

For further information and a list of the 72 selected conditions see Multimorbidity. For further information on multimorbidity across age groups, see the multimorbidity data tables. For insights into what may be driving the sex differences in multimorbidity by age, see the section on variations by age and sex in the Multimorbidity report.

Cancer

Between 2000 and 2024, overall cancer incidence in females increased by 10% while cancer mortality decreased by almost 20%. For the whole population (females and males), it is estimated that 86% of the increase in cancer incidence was due to increases in total population size and the ageing population (AIHW 2024b). These factors are also likely to account for most of the increase in female cancer incidence.

In 2024, the estimated incidence of cancer was lower in females than males. The gap between male and female mortality rates has decreased, with male cancer mortality rates dropping from 1.7 times as high as females in 2000 to 1.5 times as high in 2024 (AIHW 2024b). This has been driven by smaller improvements in survival and larger increases in incidence rates for females.

For females, changes in cancer incidence and mortality rates between 2000 and 2024 differ by cancer type (Table 1). A large portion of the increase in breast cancer incidence occurred around 2013, when BreastScreen Australia was expanded to include women aged 70 to 74. Overall, 5-year survival for breast cancer has improved, from 79% in 1991–1995 to 92% in 2016–2020, contributing to the large decrease in the mortality rate. The 23% decrease in colorectal cancer incidence is likely due to the introduction of the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program in 2006 which aims to detect and treat abnormalities early before they develop into cancer (AIHW 2024b).

Source: Cancer data in Australia (AIHW 2024b).

Notes:

1. Age standardised rates are standardised to the 2001 Australian standard population.
2. All gynaecological cancers includes ICD10 codes C51–C58. This includes cancers of the vulvar, vaginal, cervical, uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes, placenta and other unspecified female genital organs.
3. The rates presented in this table are based on the Cancer data in Australia 2024 release.
   
   

Incidence rates for melanoma, colorectal cancer and lung cancer are lower in females than males. However, the sex difference in incidence rates for lung cancer has been rapidly declining since the 1980s. Differing trends in historical smoking rates in the second half of the 1900s between the sexes, where smoking continued to increase among women when it began to decline among males, could contribute to this declining sex difference (Gray and Hill, 1975). Thyroid cancer is more common in females than males. It was estimated that about 70% of cases in 2024 would be in females (AIHW 2024b). While thyroid cancer is common, it has a high survival rate, so there are relatively few deaths.

The cancer types with the highest incidence rates vary across the life course for women. For further data on cancer incidence and mortality rates for the most common cancers in each age group, see table S5.1.

Exploring cancer incidence data in specific populations of females in Australia highlights differences, including:

• First Nations females had higher incidence rates for cervical cancer and uterine cancer but lower rates for breast cancer compared with non-Indigenous Australian females (AIHW & NIAA 2023a).
• Females born in Samoa had higher overall cancer incidence rates than those born in Australia, while for males it was lower (AIHW 2024b).
• The incidence rate for thyroid cancer in females born in Afghanistan was 1.8 times as high as females born in Australia, while rates for males were similar (AIHW 2024b).

See 1.08 Cancer - AIHW Indigenous HPF, Cancer incidence in Australia by country and region of birth and Cancer data in Australia for more information.

Cancer screening

Australia has 4 population-based cancer screening programs: 

• BreastScreen Australia 
• the National Cervical Screening Program (NCSP)
• the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program (NBCSP)
• the National Lung Cancer Screening Program (commenced 1 July 2025)

Participation and detection patterns for females varies for each of the targeted populations across the BreastScreen Australia, NCSP and NBCSP programs (Table 2). 

Source: BreastScreen Australia monitoring (AIHW 2024c), National Cervical Screening Program monitoring (AIHW 2024d), National bowel cancer screening program monitoring (AIHW 2025b)

Notes

1. From 1 July 2024, those aged 45–49 were eligible to request a screening kit.
2. The data presented is participation and detection within the BreastScreen Australia program only. Women may also attend private breast screening which is not captures in this data.
   
   

Participation rates for BreastScreen Australia and the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program were highest for women living in Inner regional and Outer regional areas, and lower among First Nations women and participants who spoke a language other than English at home (AIHW 2018). A recent AIHW analysis of drive time access to BreastScreen Australia Screening services showed lower access for women in remote areas and more disadvantaged areas, identifying potential barriers to screening for these populations (AIHW 2024e).

Over time, cancer screening, most notably since the commencement of the BreastScreen Australia program, has helped early cancer detection and intervention in women. This has contributed to a reduction in cancer mortality (see Table 1).

For more information on cancer screening in Australia see: BreastScreen Australia monitoring, National bowel cancer screening program monitoring, National Cervical Screening Program monitoring and Analysis of cancer outcomes and screening behaviour for national cancer screening programs in Australia.

Mental health

Based on the National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing (NSMHW) 2020–2022, 25% of women aged 16–85, had experienced a mental illness in the last 12 months and 44% had experienced a mental illness at any point in their lifetime (ABS 2023d). The study assesses 3 groups of mental disorders: anxiety, affective, and substance use disorders. For information and technical notes, see National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing, 2020–2022. 

Females reported higher rates of anxiety disorders and affective disorders than males, whereas males reported more than twice the rate of substance use disorders (ABS 2023d). 

Based on the 2022–23 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey, First Nations women were more likely to report having a long-term mental health condition than First Nations men (33% compared with 26%) (ABS 2024c).

The prevalence of experiencing a mental illness in the last 12 months has increased in women aged 16 and over (from 22% in 2007 to 25% in 2020–2022) but remained the same in men aged 16 and over (18%). The increase for women was most pronounced in those aged 16–24, with almost half (45%) of this population experiencing a mental illness in the 12 months before the 2020–2022 survey (Figure 3).

According to the Australian Burden of Disease study 2024, mental health and substance use disorders is the disease group with the third highest contribution to the burden of disease for women (15% of total burden). Within this disease group, anxiety and depressive disorders contribute the most to the total burden (4.9% and 3.7%, respectively) (AIHW 2024a).

The burden of mental ill health is especially high in young women. Anxiety disorders, depressive disorders and eating disorders feature in the top five causes of disease burden for women aged 15–24 and for women aged 25–44. Eating disorders do not feature in the top 10 leading causes of burden for young men (AIHW 2024a).

For more information see: Prevalence and impact of mental illness and 1.18 Social and emotional wellbeing - AIHW Indigenous HPF.

Mortality

In 2023, there were 87,000 female deaths in Australia. The median age at death was older for females than males, 85 years compared with 80 years (AIHW 2025c).

Death rates in females are consistently lower than death rates in males. There has been a long-term trend of a decline in death rates and a decrease in the difference in the rate between males and females, since the early 1900s. However, the gap between the sexes increased between 2021 and 2022 (from a rate difference of 170 to 186 deaths per 100,000 population). This was affected by sex differences in COVID-19 and excess deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic with males disproportionately affected. Since 2023, the sex difference in the death rate has returned to pre-pandemic levels and the death rate overall for both males and females continued to decline (AIHW 2025c).

In 2023, 46% of deaths in females and 50% of deaths in males aged under 75 were potentially avoidable, with the difference between the sexes being stable since 2016. After adjusting for age, potentially avoidable death rates for females fell by 11% between 2013 and 2023 (AIHW 2025c).

For further information see, Deaths in Australia, trends in deaths and Deaths in Australia, Potentially avoidable deaths.

Leading causes of death

Leading causes of death for females varies across the life course (Figure 1). Though the causes of death among males and females are broadly similar, there are some interesting differences. Based on multiple causes of death data, in 2023 (AIHW 2025c):

• Dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease was the leading cause of death for females. It was responsible for almost twice as many deaths among females as males and was the underlying cause in 12% and 6.4% of female and male deaths, respectively.
• Breast cancer, atrial fibrillation and heart failure (specified) were underlying causes of death common in females but not males.
• Hypertension was the most common contributory cause of death in females. Hypertension was also directly involved in 1 in 22 female deaths in 2023, compared with 1 in 30 male deaths.
• Musculoskeletal conditions (osteoporosis, frailty, osteoarthritis) were among the most common causes contributing to death for females but not males.

For further information on causes of death see, Deaths in Australia, Leading causes of death and Deaths in Australia, Multiple causes of death. Data on the leading underlying and contributory causes of death can be explored in supplementary tables S8.5 and S8.6 of the deaths in Australia data tables.

Mortality outcomes by population group

In 2021–2023, the age-standardised death rate for females was (AIHW 2025c):

• 1.6 times as high in Very remote areas as in Major cities
• 1.4 times as high in the lowest socioeconomic areas as in the highest socioeconomic areas
• 1.8 times as high for First Nations females as non-Indigenous females in New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia and the Northern Territory.

Patterns were similar for other mortality outcomes including median age at death and potentially avoidable deaths.

Looking at the leading underlying causes of death by population group provides insights into factors contributing to disparities in mortality outcomes. For example, diabetes is the leading underlying cause of death for First Nations females. Deaths due to diabetes are 5.9 times as high in this population as non-Indigenous females, and 1.2 times as high as First Nations males in the same jurisdictions (AIHW 2025c).

For further insights on mortality outcomes and causes of death by population group, see Deaths in Australia, Variation in deaths between population groups and 1.23 Leading causes of mortality - AIHW Indigenous HPF.

Disability

Over 2.5 million Australian women had disability in 2022, 22% of the total female population. The longer people live, the more likely they are to experience some form of disability. The proportion of women with disability increases from 11% of females aged 25–34 to 40% of females aged 65–69 (ABS 2024d).

Women aged 75–84 and over are more likely to have severe or profound disability than men. Of women aged 75–84, 26% have severe or profound disability compared with 23% of men (ABS 2024d).

For more information on disability in women, including types of disability, disability support and impact see People with disability in Australia.

Key health risk factors for women

According to the 2024 Australian burden of disease study, 33% of total burden in females was attributable to the risk factors specified in the burden of disease study (joint effect), less than for males (38%) (AIHW 2024a). Risk factors can contribute either directly or indirectly to health outcomes. Protective factors can enhance positive outcomes and lessen the chance of negative consequences from exposure to risk. Reducing exposure to modifiable risk factors can prevent disease burden and promote health.

Risk factors with higher attributable burden in females compared with males included iron deficiency, unsafe sex, bullying victimisation and intimate partner violence (only estimated in females) (AIHW 2024a). The risk factors with the largest contribution to disease burden in females by age, and how these have changed over time, can be explored in the interactive graph- Attributable burden across the life course.

Risk factors that contribute to the health of women in Australia include biomedical, behavioural and environmental factors.

Other factors or ‘determinants’ of health also influence and affect the health of women and communities. Health determinants include general socioeconomic, cultural and environmental conditions; living and working conditions; social and community networks; in addition to individual behavioural and biological factors. See What are determinants of health?

Violence against women

Family, domestic and sexual violence is a major health and welfare issue in Australia, occurring across all socioeconomic and demographic groups, but predominantly affecting women and children. These types of violence can have a serious impact on individuals, families and communities and can inflict physical injury, psychological trauma and emotional suffering. These effects can be long-lasting and can affect future generations.

In Australia, family, domestic and sexual violence (FDSV) mainly affects women and children. According to the ABS Personal Safety Survey (ABS 2023e), in 2021–22:

• More than 1 in 4 (2.7 million) women had experienced family and domestic violence (FDV) since the age of 15, compared with 1 in 8 (1.1 million) men.
• Over 1 in 5 (2.2 million) women had experienced sexual violence since the age of 15, compared with 1 in 16 (582,400) men.

FDSV has health and behavioural outcomes that can be serious and long-lasting. It can have direct impacts on health, for example, through assault injury, sexually transmitted infection, and post-traumatic stress, depression, or suicide. 

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a subset of the broader definition of FDSV which refers to physical and sexual violence within a current or previous intimate relationship. In 2024, IPV contributed to around 1.7% of the total burden of disease for females. Additionally, around 7.6% of the burden due to mental health conditions and substance use disorders among females was attributable to IPV, after adjusting for the effect of all the risk factors included in the study (AIHW 2024a). 

Around 9 in 10 (88%) hospitalisations for injury by a spouse or domestic partner were for females in 2023–24 (AIHW 2025e). For First Nations females aged 15 and over, a spouse or domestic partner was the most commonly reported perpetrator for family violence hospitalisations (56%) (AIHW 2025f). 

Findings from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health (ALSWH) indicate that:

• Women who had experienced sexual violence were more likely to report a recent diagnosis of and/or treatment for depression or anxiety, and experience high levels of stress and psychological distress (Townsend et al. 2022). 
• Women who had experienced domestic violence were more likely to be diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection (Loxton et al. 2017) and less likely to be screened for cervical cancer (Loxton et al. 2009).

For further information see mental health and the health outcomes topic of the AIHW’s Family, domestic and sexual violence website.

FDSV can also have an indirect impact by influencing social factors that contribute to health such as employment and education, relationships, and financial and housing stability. In the 2021–22 Personal Safety Survey, women reported taking time off work and changes to their usual social or leisure activities, sleep routine, eating habits, and building and maintaining relationships, following their most recent incident of sexual assault by a male (AIHW 2024f). See the behavioural outcomes topic of the AIHW’s Family, domestic and sexual violence website.

For more information and data on FDSV in Australia and its effects see: Family, domestic and sexual violence

Overweight and obesity, dietary risks and physical inactivity

Overweight and obesity is the leading risk factor contributing to disease burden in females. It was responsible for 7.7% of the total burden of disease in 2024 (AIHW 2024a) and was listed in the top 5 risk factors for all age groups above 25.

Overweight and obesity is associated with other health risk factors, including physical inactivity and dietary behaviours that can independently contribute to disease. Data from the 2022 National Health Survey (ABS 2023c) show that for women aged 18 and over:

• 61% are living with overweight or obesity, compared with 71% of men aged 18 and over
• the proportion who self-reported not meeting the physical activity guidelines (excluding exercise at work) has declined from 64% in 2017–18 to 48% in 2022
• almost 1 in 3 (32%) in the 18–24 age group self-reported meeting the strength guidelines, the most of any age group. Fewer than 1 in 4 (23%) women overall meet the strength guidelines
• 9 in 10 self-reported not meeting the recommended daily intake of vegetables, with the proportion decreasing from 96% of women aged 18–24 to 86% of women aged over 75
• the proportion who self-reported meeting the recommended daily intake of fruit has declined from 56% in 2017–18 to 47% in 2022.

For more data on these risk factors, see Diet, Physical activity and Overweight and obesity.

Tobacco, alcohol and other drugs use

Tobacco, alcohol and illicit drug use are all listed in the top 10 leading risk factors contributing to disease burden in Australian females, ranking second, seventh and tenth, respectively, after adjusting for age. Between 2003 and 2024, the burden attributable to:

• tobacco use has declined
• alcohol use has remained stable and 
• illicit drug use has increased (AIHW 2024a).

Data from the National Drug Strategy and Household Survey 2022–2023 (AIHW 2024g) showed that in general, since 2019 the rates of daily tobacco smoking have declined while illicit drug use in the last 12 months and daily use of e-cigarettes/vapes have increased. The proportion of women consuming alcohol in ways that put their health at risk remained stable (Figure 4). Substance use rates vary with age among women – illicit drug use is more common in younger age groups and heavy alcohol drinking more common in middle and older age groups. These age-based differences could affect patterns of disease burden in the future.

For more information, see Alcohol, tobacco & other drugs and National Drug Strategy Household Survey 2022–2023.

In addition to the harm alcohol consumption has on the individual, the use of alcohol can also result in harm to other people. In 2022–2023, an increasing number of women experienced harms from people who were under the influence of alcohol including verbal abuse, physical abuse or being put in fear (AIHW 2024g). For further information see National Drug Strategy Household Survey 2022–2023: Alcohol related harms and risks in the NDSHS.

Women’s health care use

Hospital and Emergency presentations

In 2023–24, there were 6.6 million hospitalisations for females (52% of total hospitalisations) – a rate of 491 hospitalisations per 1,000 females (AIHW 2025g). The reasons for hospitalisation varied by age group (see Figure 1).

Hospitalisation rates in females increased with age (from 237 per 1,000 females among the 15–24 age group to 1,305 per 1,000 females aged 85 and over). In comparison to males, rates of hospitalisation were higher for women aged up to 54 and lower for those aged over 55, see Who used these services? Table 3.8 (AIHW 2025g). Pregnancy and childbirth are the top reasons for hospitalisation in younger women (Figure 1), which contributes to this difference.

There were 398,600 hospitalisations in 2023–24 for First Nations females – 6% of all female hospitalisations. Hospitalisations were higher for First Nations females than First Nations males (58% and 42% of all First Nation’s hospitalisations, respectively). This disparity was consistent across all age groups (AIHW 2025g).

In 2023–24, females and males accounted for 4.6 million and 4.4 million presentations to Australian public hospital emergency departments (ED), (51% and 49% of total ED presentations, respectively). When comparing by sex, females were more likely to be triaged as ‘urgent’ (within 30 minutes) than males (43% and 39%), and slightly less likely to be triaged as ‘semi-urgent’ (within 60 minutes) (34% and 35%) and ‘emergency’ (within 10 minutes) (16% and 18%) (AIHW 2025h).

Health services

In 2023–24, females accessed around 145.2 million non-hospital Medicare-subsidised services in Australia, or 58% of total services. The proportion of females who had a Medicare-subsidised general practitioner (GP) attendance was higher than males (88% of females compared with 80% of males). There were also higher proportions of females than males who had allied health attendance (44% compared with 33%) and specialist attendances (34% compared with 29%) (AIHW 2025i).

According to the ABS’ Patient Experiences survey 2023–24 (ABS 2024e), females were more likely to have used a range of health services and mental health services than males. However, females were more likely to delay or not use these services when needed, than males (see Figure 5).

Women’s experiences of health care

Australian women and gender diverse people commonly report experiencing gender bias or discrimination in health care, most commonly in relation to sexual and reproductive health and chronic pain (DoHDA, 2024). The National Women’s Health Advisory Councils’ End Gender Bias Survey highlighted how women’s and gender diverse people’s experience of health care services can impact their health through delayed diagnosis and treatment. Women reported positive experiences of health care stemmed from strong relationships where they felt listened too and believed by health care providers.

According to the ABS’ Patient Experiences survey 2023–24 (ABS 2024e), women were more likely than men to report feeling they were sometimes, rarely or never listened to carefully or shown respect by a GP or medical specialist (Figure 6).

Priority health concerns for women

Maternal and perinatal health

Each year in Australia almost 300,000 women give birth (AIHW 2025j). The health and wellbeing of a women prior to becoming pregnant and during their pregnancy, and the services and support they receive, can have protective or detrimental effects for their labour and birth, the outcomes for their babies and for themselves. 

In 2023, of women who gave birth (AIHW 2025j):

• 79% accessed antenatal care in the first trimester of their pregnancy and 95% had 5 or more antenatal care visits
• 31.3 years was the average age overall and 29.9 the average age for first time mothers 
• 28% were aged 35 and over while 11% were aged under 25
• 41% gave birth by caesarean section and 48% had a non-instrumental vaginal birth.

There have been changes in these outcomes over time. The age of mothers giving birth has increased, more mothers accessed antenatal care in the first trimester and the proportion of mother’s giving birth via caesarean section has risen (AIHW 2025j).

For more information and reporting on maternal and perinatal health topics see Mothers & babies.

Sexual and reproductive health

Sexual and reproductive health concerns vary across different stages of a woman’s life, encompassing many topics, including termination of pregnancy, early pregnancy loss, infertility, menopause and health conditions such as endometriosis, heavy menstrual bleeding, and sexually transmitted infections.

Available data show the significant impact of sexual and reproductive health experiences in women:

• Around 1 in 7 (14%) women born in 1973–78 were estimated to have been diagnosed with endometriosis by age 44–49 (AIHW 2025k).
• 1 in 4 women of reproductive age experience heavy menstrual bleeding (ACSQHC 2024).
• Almost 4 in 5 (78%) Australian women aged 18–44 years have experienced bothersome (heavy, irregular or painful) periods in the last 5 years (2018–2023) and almost half (44%) have missed days of work or study as a result (Jean Hailes 2023a).
• Almost 1 in 6 (16%) women have had a termination of pregnancy by their mid-30’s (Taft et al 2019).
• 1 in 4 women (26%) aged 45–64 years reported that symptoms attributed to menopause made it hard to do daily activities (Jean Hailes 2023b).
• Gonorrhoea cases reported in females were less than half the number reported in males in 2024 –12,100 cases compared to 32,300 cases (DoHDA 2025).

The AIHW is working to improve data on sexual and reproductive health. For more information see Sexual & reproductive health.

Though there are gaps in national data, statistics, and monitoring information on sexual and reproductive health in Australia, several recent reports have provided valuable data and insights for women, including:

• The impact of endometriosis in Australia has been further explored using available hospitals and emergency department data, see Endometriosis.
• The Women’s health focus report published by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care has reported data on treatments for heavy menstrual bleeding.
• The Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health has released findings on Reproductive health: Contraception, conception, and change of life.

Healthy ageing

Australian women are living longer lives, leading to a higher number of women in older age groups. As the female population increases in age, so does the importance of healthy ageing. Understanding the health concerns of older women, reducing risk factors, and providing preventive health measures throughout life are important facets of healthy ageing.

Among women aged 65 and over:

• 1.2 million had disability in 2022, of which 550,000 had profound or severe core activity limitation (ABS 2024d)
• hospitalisations for falls were more common than among men over 65 (AIHW 2025l)
• a higher burden of disease due to musculoskeletal conditions was experienced compared with men over 65, with particularly high rates of osteoporosis (AIHW 2024a, ABS 2023c)
• 60% of those aged 65–74 live with 2 or more selected long-term health conditions, rising to 73% in those aged 75 and over (AIHW 2025a)
• dementia is the leading cause of disease burden (AIHW 2024a).

Nearly two-thirds (63%) of Australians living with dementia are women. The rates are similar for men and women in the younger age groups but quickly diverge with increasing age (AIHW 2024h). 

Dementia risk can be reduced by taking preventive actions to address known risk factors. The 2024 update of the Lancet Commission on dementia highlights 14 risk factors to be targeted to prevent and delay dementia. These are less education, high cholesterol, hearing loss, visual loss, hypertension, physical inactivity, diabetes, social isolation, excessive alcohol consumption, air pollution, smoking, obesity, traumatic brain injury, and depression (Livingston et al 2024). 

Data from the Dementia Awareness survey 2023 showed women aged 65 and over and Australians who know more about dementia are more likely to take action to reduce dementia risk (AIHW 2024h). This highlights the importance of education in promoting preventive health behaviours for healthy ageing. 

Lifestyle changes can also reduce the risk factors that contribute to the overall burden of ill health in older ages groups. Overweight or obesity, tobacco use, and high blood pressure are the risk factors with the highest contribution to overall disease burden in older women (AIHW 2024a). Women can also experience other risk factors that can affect healthy ageing, including the effects of menopause, vitamin and mineral deficiencies (such as iron, vitamin D, calcium), pregnancy and contraceptive use.

Preventive health checks also contribute to healthy ageing. Women should undertake regular checks, including cancer screening and more specific health checks if they have relevant risk factors (Jean Hailes 2024). Findings from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health show a high proportion of women had blood pressure and cholesterol checks but lower proportions had skin cancer checks or bone density tests (Loxton et al 2024).

Priority population groups of women

Priority population groups of women can experience different health outcomes due to a range of social, economic, cultural, and geographic factors. These groups are considered "priority" because they often face systemic barriers to accessing timely, appropriate, and culturally safe health care, which can lead to poorer health outcomes. Examples of priority populations identified in the National Women’s Health Strategy 2020–2030 includes pregnant women and their children, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, women from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds, women who have experienced violence or abuse, and women living in rural and remote areas. 

Understanding and quantifying health differences in these populations requires disaggregated data – that is, breaking data down by subgroups such as remoteness, socioeconomic status, and cultural background. Intersectionality – where a woman belongs to more than one priority population group – can compound the impacts on health.

Extensive data and analyses for some population groups are produced by the institute, see First Nations people, Mothers & babies, and Veterans.

Recent data have shown differences in prevalence of chronic health conditions by country of birth and time since arrival in Australia (AIHW 2023). Though these are valuable insights, further data are needed to understand the broader health disparities among culturally and linguistically diverse women. Likewise, data are also limited on the health of women who are part of the LBTIQ communities. See CALD and LGBTIQ+ communities for further information.

Where do I go for more information?

See Women’s health for AIHW reporting relating to women's health.

Other sources for information on women's health include:

• Jean Hailes | Creating a healthier future for all women
• ALSWH – Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health
• National Women’s Health Advisory Council | Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
• Australian Women's Health Alliance