Australian States Life Expectancy Statistics Chart
Ian C. Langtree - Writer/Editor for Disabled World (DW)
Published: 2017/05/11 - Updated: 2020/12/04
Topic: Medical Calculators and Charts - Publications List
Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main
Synopsis: Chart of human lifespan expectancy statistics sorted by Australian states and territories. The average Australian born today will live well into their 80s, surviving longer than most people in the world.
Introduction
No wonder Australia is called the "lucky country", Australians have a higher life expectancy(i), for both males and females, than similar countries such as Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the USA. In fact Australian babies born today have the highest estimated life expectancy ever recorded in Australia.
Focus
Australian life expectancy hit a new high in 2015, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). The average Australian born today will live well into their 80s, surviving longer than most people in the world. Life expectancy at birth estimates represent the average number of years that a newborn baby could expect to live, assuming current age-specific death rates are experienced throughout his/her lifetime.
Life expectancy for Australian males at birth reached 80.4 years in 2015, and female life expectancy increased to 84.5 years. In 2013-2015 the combined (m/f) life expectancy at birth estimate for Australia was 82.4 years - 11.9 years higher than the world average of 70.5 years in 2010-2015.
The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) has the highest life expectancy for both males and females - 81.2 years and 85.3 years respectively (2015 statistics). And the Northern Territory (NT) has the lowest life expectancy of 75.7 years for males and 78.5 years for females.
The current biggest health threat in Australia is coronary heart disease, which accounts for approximately 10% of all premature deaths, in fact CVD's are the leading cause of premature death for Australians who die under the age of 75. The next largest cause of premature death in Australia is lung cancer at 9%, followed by suicide, the leading cause of death among young people in Australia, at 5%.
Also see our Average Life Span Expectancy Chart - a list of male and female lifespan expectant averages by country and average age to death.
| Australian States Average Life Expectancy Age | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australian State or Territory | 2003-2005 | 2013-2015 | 10 Yr Increase | ||||
| M | F | M | F | M | F | ||
| years | years | years | years | years | years | ||
| New South Wales | 78.5 | 83.3 | 80.4 | 84.6 | 1.9 | 1.3 | |
| Victoria | 79.0 | 83.6 | 81.1 | 84.7 | 2.1 | 1.1 | |
| Queensland | 78.3 | 83.2 | 80.0 | 84.3 | 1.7 | 1.1 | |
| South Australia | 78.1 | 83.4 | 80.3 | 84.4 | 2.2 | 1.0 | |
| Western Australia | 78.8 | 83.8 | 80.5 | 85.0 | 1.7 | 1.2 | |
| Tasmania | 77.2 | 82.1 | 78.9 | 82.8 | 1.7 | 0.7 | |
| Northern Territory | 72.5 | 78.2 | 75.7 | 78.5 | 3.2 | 0.3 | |
| Australian Capital Territory | 79.9 | 84.0 | 81.2 | 85.3 | 1.3 | 1.3 | |
| Australian Average | 78.5 | 83.3 | 80.4 | 84.5 | 1.9 | 1.2 | |
Data Sourced from The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS)
(i) Life expectancy is calculated using a statistical tool called a life table. A life table is generated from current age and sex-specific death rates in a given population. The resulting values are used to estimate the likelihood of someone in a hypothetical population dying before their next birthday.
Author Credentials: Ian is an Australian-born writer, editor, and advocate who currently resides in Montreal, Canada. He is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Disabled World, a leading resource for news and information on disability issues. With a global perspective shaped by years of travel and lived experience, Ian is a committed proponent of the Social Model of Disability-a transformative framework developed by disabled activists in the 1970s that emphasizes dismantling societal barriers rather than focusing solely on individual impairments. His work reflects a deep commitment to disability rights, accessibility, and social inclusion. To learn more about Ian's background, expertise, and accomplishments, visit his full biography.