Life expectancy refers to the average number of additional years a person of a given age and sex could be expected to live, assuming current age-sex specific death rates are experienced throughout their lifetime.
Life expectancy
Latest release
Statistics about life tables and life expectancy estimates for Australia, states and territories and life expectancy at birth for sub-state regions.
Reference period
2021 - 2023
Released
8/11/2024
Key statistics
- Life expectancy at birth was 81.1 years for males and 85.1 years for females in 2021-2023, a slight decrease of 0.1 years for males and 0.2 years for females from the previous year (2020-2022).
- Life expectancy was highest in the Australian Capital Territory for males (81.7 years) and the Australian Capital Territory and Western Australia for females (both 85.7 years).
- Life expectancy was lowest in the Northern Territory for both males (76.4 years) and females (80.4 years).
This release presents life expectancy estimates based on the occurrence of deaths in the 2021-2023 period; a time period that was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, the death rate increased but was still lower than pre-pandemic levels. In 2022, Australia's pattern of mortality differed to that of the first two years of the pandemic and the number of deaths increased by almost 20,000 deaths from 2021, with almost half of these being due to COVID-19. In 2023, 5,001 deaths were registered that were due to COVID-19, a decrease from 9,862 deaths in 2022.
National
Life expectancy decreased again in 2021-2023, following a decrease in the previous period (2020-2022) which was the first decrease since the mid 1990's.
- Life expectancy at birth for males was 81.1 years and for females was 85.1 years, a decrease of 0.1 years for males and 0.2 years for females.
- Over the past decade, life expectancy increased by 1.0 years for males and 0.8 years for females.
- The difference in life expectancy between males and females is 4.0 years.
- Around 30 years ago (1993), life expectancy at birth was 75.0 years for males and 80.9 years for females, a gap of 5.9 years.
States and territories
Life expectancy at birth:
- was highest for males (81.7 years) in the Australian Capital Territory and for females (85.7 years) in both the Australian Capital Territory and Western Australia
- was lowest for both males (76.4 years) and females (80.4 years) in the Northern Territory, 4.7 years lower than for Australian males and females
- decreased across all states and territories for females
- decreased across most states and territories for males, except the Northern Territory which recorded a 0.2 year increase.
- Includes Other Territories
- Includes Other Territories
Regions
Life expectancy at birth was:
- generally higher in capital city SA4s than remote SA4s
- highest for males in Sydney - Baulkham Hills and Hawkesbury (85.5 years)
- highest for females in Sydney - North Sydney and Hornsby (88.2 years)
- lowest for both males and females in Northern Territory - Outback (71.9 years and 75.5 years).
International comparisons
Based on Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development estimates:
- Australia has the fourth highest life expectancy
- Japan, Switzerland and Korea have higher life expectancies than Australia.
| Persons | rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Japan | 84.1 | 1 |
| Switzerland | 83.7 | 2 |
| Korea(b) | 83.6 | 3 |
| Australia | 83.2 | 4 |
| Spain | 83.2 | 4 |
| Sweden | 83.1 | 6 |
| Luxembourg | 83.0 | 7 |
| Israel | 82.8 | 8 |
| Italy | 82.8 | 8 |
| Ireland | 82.6 | 10 |
- Based on life expectancy for persons.
- Based on 2021 estimates.
Source: For all countries, see OECD, Life expectancy at birth
Data downloads
Data cubes
Data files
Table 1: Life tables, age and sex by state and territory of usual residence, 2021-2023
Table 2: Life expectancy at birth, sex by Statistical Areas Level 4, 2016-2018 to 2021-2023
Previous catalogue number
This release previously used catalogue number 3302.0.55.001
Methodology
Scope
The ABS Death Registrations collection includes all deaths that occurred and were registered in Australia, including deaths of persons whose place of usual residence was overseas.
Geography
Data on life expectancy are available by the following geographies:
- Australia
- States and territories
- SA4
Source
Deaths data are sourced from death registrations systems administered by the various state and territory Registries of Births, Deaths and Marriages.
Collection method
Information about the deceased is supplied by a relative or other person acquainted with the deceased, or by an official of the institution where the death occurred.
Concepts, sources and methods
Descriptions of the underlying concepts and methods used are available in the Methodology and Quality declaration - summary in Deaths, Australia.
History of changes
Not applicable to this release.