A new report from the Australian Bureau of Statistics using the 2021 Census dataset finds that approximately 8 million Australians live with a long-term health condition. Over 2.1 million Australians live with arthritis.
The proportion of those with a long-term health condition increased with age. More than three out of every five (63%) people aged 65+ reported having at least one long-term health condition compared with one in five (22%) 15–34 year olds.
Mental illness is the most reported long-term health condition overall, followed by arthritis, and many people reported living with more than one long-term condition.
Previous research has shown us that, as with many chronic health conditions, people living with arthritis are more likely to also live with a mental health condition.
Here are 5 key points taken from the 2021 Census dataset:
- According to the census data, over 2.1 million Australians reported being diagnosed with arthritis
- Arthritis is the second most reported chronic health condition overall in the census
- Women were more likely to report having a long-term health condition, with arthritis being the most commonly reported
- Overall, more than 4.8 million people said they suffered one of the 10 long-term conditions listed in the census, 1.5 million reported living with two, and another 750,000 have three. Many of these long-term conditions share similar risk factors to those for arthritis.
- New census data on arthritis can show governments where more services are needed
To access the full report, visit https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/health/health-conditions-and-risks/health-census/2021
