Scorecard: How healthy are Australians?

Measure Result Comparison Evaluation

Life expectancy
The life expectancy 82.5 years Compared to the The life expectancy
from birth for all average for all for Australians is 1.9
persons in Australia. OECD countries. years greater than
the OECD average
(green light)

Main cause(s) of death

The mortality rate of Neoplasms 194.8 Compared to the Australia’s mortality
the two main causes deaths per 100,000 average for all rate of the two main
of death in Australia. population. OECD countries. causes of death is
Diseases of the less than the OECD
circulatory system average.
186.6 deaths per (orange light)
100,000 population.
Self-rated health
The proportion of 85.2% Compared to the The proportion of
Australian’s that average for all Australian’s that
rate their health as OECD countries. rate their health as
Good or Very good Good or Very good
is 19.9% higher that
the OECD average.
(green light)
Tobacco
The proportion of 12.4% Compared to the The proportion of
Australian’s 15 average for all Australian smokers
years and older that OECD countries. is 6% less than the
are daily smokers. OECD average.
(green light)

Alcohol intake
The number of litres 9.7 Compared to the The OECD average
per capita of alcohol average for all is 8.9, therefore
consumed for OECD countries. Australia consumes
Australian’s aged 15 0.8 more alcohol
and over. than the average.
(orange light)
Obesity
The proportion of 27.9% Compared to the The OECD average
Australian’s that are average for all is 23.8%, therefore
Obese. OECD countries. Australian’s are
4.1% more obese
than the average.
(red light)
Overall evaluation (key points)
Although tobacco smoking has been given a green light as Australia is ranked the 6th
lowest country and is below the average for all OECD countries, doesn’t necessarily mean
that the proportion of daily smokers aged 15 and over is acceptable. By reducing the
proportion of daily smokers, this will result in the decrease in mortality rate of the two main
causes of death, and therefore increase life expectancy.
Scorecard: How healthy are Australians?
The Australian alcohol intake is higher than the average for all OECD countries, but has
only been given an given an orange light as there are other measures of health which are
more significant, for example, obesity.
Out of all the measures of health displayed in this table, obesity has demonstrated that it
is the biggest problem, therefore has been given a red light. This greater proportion of
obesity will result in a decrease in life expectancy.