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
2022 - 2024
Released
11/11/2025
Release date and time
11/11/2025 11:30am AEDT
Key statistics
- Life expectancy at birth was 81.1 years for males and 85.1 years for females in 2022–2024, reflecting no change for either males or females from the previous year (2021–2023).
- Life expectancy was highest in the Australian Capital Territory for both males (82.0 years) and females (85.8 years).
- Life expectancy was lowest in the Northern Territory for both males (77.0 years) and females (80.7 years).
This release presents life expectancy estimates based on deaths that occurred in the 2022–2024 period; a time period that was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022, Australia recorded high levels of excess mortality, with the number of deaths increasing by almost 20,000 from 2021, and COVID-19 causing over 10,000 deaths. In 2023, around 5,000 deaths were registered that were due to COVID-19, and around 4,000 in 2024. For all causes combined, total registered deaths have decreased compared with 2022, but remain higher than pre-pandemic levels.
National
Life expectancy was unchanged from 2021–2023, following decreases in that period and the previous period (2020–2022), which were the first decreases since the mid-1990s.
- Life expectancy at birth for males was 81.1 years and for females was 85.1 years.
- Over the past decade, life expectancy increased by 0.8 years for males and 0.7 years for females.
- The difference in life expectancy between males and females is 4.0 years.
- 30 years ago (1994), life expectancy at birth was 75.0 years for males and 80.9 years for females, a difference of 5.9 years.
States and territories
Life expectancy at birth:
- was highest for males (82.0 years) and females (85.8 years) in the Australian Capital Territory
- was lowest for both males (77.0 years) and females (80.7 years) in the Northern Territory
- had the largest increase for both males (0.6 years) and females (0.3 years) in the Northern Territory.
- Includes Other Territories
- Includes Other Territories
Regions
Life expectancy at birth:
- was generally higher in capital city SA4s than remote SA4s
- was highest for both males and females in Sydney - North Sydney and Hornsby (85.8 years and 88.1 years)
- increased the most for males in Tasmania's South East (1.4 years) and for females in Sydney - Parramatta, Melbourne - Inner South, and Western Australia - Outback (South) (0.7 years).
International comparisons
Based on Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) estimates:
- Australia had the tenth highest life expectancy
- Switzerland, Japan, Spain, Israel, Italy, Korea, Luxembourg, Sweden and Norway had higher life expectancies than Australia.
| Years | Rank | |
|---|---|---|
| Switzerland | 84.3 | 1 |
| Japan | 84.1 | 2 |
| Spain | 84.0 | 3 |
| Israel | 83.8 | 4 |
| Italy | 83.5 | 5 |
| Korea | 83.5 | 5 |
| Luxembourg | 83.4 | 7 |
| Sweden | 83.4 | 7 |
| Norway | 83.1 | 9 |
| Australia(b) | 83.0 | 10 |
- Based on life expectancy for persons.
- ABS uses three years of deaths data to calculate life expectancy. This release includes deaths for 2022–2024. Deaths due to COVID-19 peaked in 2022, at over 10,000 deaths.
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, 2022–2024
Table 2: Life expectancy at birth, sex by Statistical Areas Level 4, 2016–2018 to 2022–2024
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
- Statistical Areas Level 4 (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 Life Expectancy Methodology and Deaths, Australia Quality declaration.
History of changes
Not applicable to this release.