A PICTURE OF AUSTRALIA'S HEALTH

In developed countries such as Australia, improvements in nutrition, sanitation, water supplies, hygiene, and living and working conditions brought about major improvements in health and life expectancy, particularly before the 1950s. In the past 50 years, advances in medical technology have also been important. These advances have been supported by further improvements in lifestyle.

The following information has been included to provide more detail about how Australia's health has changed over time. The information relates to causes of death, cancers, the prevalence of heart disease, the burden of disease, living with a disability, risk factors and mental health.