SELF-ASSESSED HEALTH STATUS

Self-assessed health status is commonly used as a proxy measure of actual health status and may provide insights into how people perceive their own health in relation to lifestyle behaviours or disease.

Australians generally consider themselves to be healthy. In 2007-08, over half (56%) of Australians aged 15 years and over rated their health as very good or excellent, while 15% rated it as fair or poor. There has been little change in self-assessed health status since 2001.

Older people are more likely to report fair or poor health than younger people (39% of those aged 75 years and over and 7% of 15-24 year olds), while younger people are more likely to report excellent or very good health than older people (67% of 15-24 year olds and 29% of 75 years and over).