These statistics form part of the National Health Survey 2022. More information on other topics of interest from the survey are available on the National Health Survey 2022 page.
Dietary behaviour
Latest release
Key statistics and data about child and adult consumption of fruit and vegetables
Reference period
2022
Released
15/12/2023
Key statistics
- Adults and children had similar rates of meeting both fruit and vegetable recommendations (4.2% and 4.3%)
- More than four in ten (44.1%) adults met the fruit recommendation and more than six in ten (63.9%) children met the fruit recommendation
Adult fruit and vegetable consumption
A balanced diet, including sufficient fruit and vegetables, can reduce the risk of developing conditions such as heart disease and diabetes. The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) 2013 Australian Dietary Guidelines recommend a minimum number of serves of fruit and vegetables each day, depending on a person's age and sex, to ensure good nutrition and health[1]. More information about the guidelines is available in the Methodology.
| Age groups (years) | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2–3 | 4–8 | 9–11 | 12–13 | 14–18 | 19–50 | 51–70 | 70+(a) | ||
| Fruit (serves) | |||||||||
| Males | 1 | 1.5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | |
| Females | 1 | 1.5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | |
| Vegetables (serves) | |||||||||
| Males | 2.5 | 4.5 | 5 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 6 | 5.5 | 5 | |
| Females | 2.5 | 4.5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | |
- For this analysis, this has been interpreted as 71 years and over.
In 2022, less adults aged 18 years and over met the fruit and vegetable recommendations than in 2017–18:
- More than four in ten (44.1%) met the fruit recommendation, a decrease from 51.3%
- Almost one in fifteen (6.5%) met the vegetable recommendation, a decrease from 7.5%
- 4.2% met both the fruit and vegetable recommendations, a decrease from 5.4%.
Females were more likely to meet the recommendations than males:
- 46.7% of females met the fruit recommendation compared to 41.6% of males
- 9.8% of females met the vegetable recommendation compared to 3.0% of males
- 6.3% of females met both recommendations compared to 2.1% of males.
Overall, older people were more likely to meet both the fruit and vegetable recommendations than younger people. People aged 75 years and over were more likely to meet the recommendations than people aged 18–24 years (8.1% compared to 2.1%).
The proportion of adults who reported that they do not usually eat fruit daily has increased over the last decade (from 6.3% in 2011–12 to 12.0% in 2022). The proportion of adults who reported that they do not usually eat vegetables daily has increased slightly from 0.8% in 2011–12 to 1.8% in 2022.
Childrens’ fruit and vegetable consumption
Healthy behaviours established early in life, such as a balanced diet with sufficient fruit and vegetables, may continue into adolescence and adulthood. These behaviours may reduce a person's risk of developing conditions such as heart disease and diabetes[1].
NHMRC 2013 Australian Dietary Guidelines
The NHMRC 2013 ADG recommend a minimum number of serves of fruit and vegetables each day for children, depending on their age and sex, to ensure good nutrition to support growth and development[1]. More information about the guidelines is available in the Methodology.
In 2022, fewer children aged 2–17 years met the fruit and vegetable recommendations compared to 2017–18:
- More than six in ten (63.9%) met the fruit recommendation, a decrease from 73.0% in 2017–18
- One in twenty (4.6%) met the vegetable recommendation, a decrease from 6.3% in 2017–18
- 4.3% met both fruit and vegetable recommendations, a decrease from 6.0% in 2017–18.
Younger children aged 2–3 years were more likely to meet both fruit and vegetable recommendations compared to teens aged 14–17 years (20.1% compared to 2.9%).
- The proportion for met the fruit recommendation has a high margin of error and should be used with caution.
The proportion of children who do not usually eat fruit daily has doubled over the last decade (from 2.8% in 2011–12 to 5.8% in 2022). Similarly, the proportion of children who do not usually eat vegetables daily has tripled (1.5% compared to 4.5%).
Data downloads
See the National Health Survey 2022 data downloads for the full suite of available data. Data relating to Dietary behaviour can be found in tables:
- TABLE 1 Summary health characteristics, 2001 to 2022
- TABLE 2 Summary health characteristics, by states and territories
- TABLE 5 Selected long-term health conditions, by health risk factors and health status
- TABLE 6 Health risk factors, by population characteristics
- TABLE 9 Consumption of fruit and vegetables, by age and sex
- TABLE 18 Childrens consumption of fruit and vegetables, by age and sex.
Footnotes
- National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), ‘Australian Dietary Guidelines’, https://www.eatforhealth.gov.au/guidelines/guidelines; accessed 15/11/2023.
Media release
See National Health Survey 2022 media release for more information.
Methodology
Scope
Includes:
- all usual residents in Australia aged 0+ years living in private dwellings.
- urban and rural areas in all states and territories, excluding very remote parts of Australia and discrete Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities.
Geography
The data available includes estimates for:
- Australia
- States and territories
Source
The National Health Survey conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
Medications data from the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.
Collection method
Face-to-face interview with an Australian Bureau of Statistics Interviewer.
Linkage to the Person Level Integrated Data Asset.
Concepts, sources and methods
Health conditions are presented using a classification which is based on the 10th revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10).