Socio-economic outcome area 1

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people enjoy long and healthy lives

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Target 1

Close the Gap in life expectancy within a generation, by 2031.

Dashboard snapshot: The data below are the most recent at the time of preparing the July 2023 report. Please go to the dashboard to access the current data.

Nationally, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander males born in 2015–2017 are expected to live to 71.6 years and females to 75.6 years, and non-Indigenous males and females to 80.2 years and 83.4 years respectively (figure CtG1.1).

Between 2005–2007 and 2015–2017, the gap in life expectancy narrowed for males (from 11.4 years to 8.6 years) and for females (from 9.6 years to 7.8 years).

Nationally, based on progress from the baseline, the target shows improvement but is not on track to be met for males or females. However, this assessment should be used with caution as it is based on a limited number of data points. Please see the How to interpret the data page for more information.

Figure CtG1.1 shows the difference in estimated life expectancy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and non-Indigenous children at birth. More details can be found within the text near this image.

The assessments below reflect progress from the baseline (improvement, worsening or no change). For the national assessment, the target outcome shows improvement but is not on track to be met for males or females.

NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
MalesImprovementNot applicable as required data not availableImprovementImprovementNot applicable as required data not availableNot applicable as required data not availableNot applicable as required data not availableImprovementImprovement but target not on track to be met
FemalesImprovementNot applicable as required data not availableImprovementImprovementNot applicable as required data not availableNot applicable as required data not availableNot applicable as required data not availableWorseningImprovement but target not on track to be met

right arrow improvement rectangle no change left arrow worsening not applicable as required data not available. tick good improvement and target on track to be met. circle improvement but target not on track to be met.

Note: These assessments of progress should be used with caution as they are based on a limited number of data points.

Disaggregations

By remoteness area

Nationally, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander males and females born in 2015–2017 had higher life expectancy in major cities (72.1 years and 76.5 years, respectively) and regional areas (70.0 years and 74.8 years, respectively), than in remote and very remote areas (combined) (65.9 years and 69.6 years, respectively) (figure CtG1.2).

Figure CtG1.2 shows Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, Estimated life expectancy at birth, Australia, by remoteness area. More details can be found within the text near this image.
Data in figure CtG1.2 (years)
Sex Remoteness2015-17
MalesRemote and very remote65.9
Inner and outer regional70.0
Major cities72.1
FemalesRemote and very remote69.6
Inner and outer regional74.8
Major cities76.5

By Index of Relative Socioeconomic Disadvantage (IRSD) quintile

Nationally in 2015–2017, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander males and females born in the least disadvantaged socioeconomic areas had higher life expectancy (72.4 years and 76.6 years, respectively) compared to those born in the most disadvantaged areas (68.2 years and 72.8 years, respectively) (figure CtG1.3).

Figure CtG1.3 shows Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, Estimated life expectancy at birth, Australia, by Index of Relative Socioeconomic Disadvantage quintile. More details can be found within the text near this image.
Data in figure CtG1.3 (years)
SexDescription22015-17
MalesLeast disadvantaged 40 per cent72.4
Middle 20 per cent69.9
Second most disadvantaged 20 per cent70.3
Most disadvantaged 20 per cent68.2
FemalesLeast disadvantaged 40 per cent76.6
Middle 20 per cent74.3
Second most disadvantaged 20 per cent75.5
Most disadvantaged 20 per cent72.8

Target data specifications

Target 1: Close the Gap in life expectancy within a generation

Outcome:

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people enjoy long and healthy lives.

Target:

Close the Gap in life expectancy within a generation, by 2031.

Indicator:

Life expectancy gap.

Measure:

This measure is defined as the difference between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and non-Indigenous life expectancy.

Life expectancy is the average number of years that a newborn baby could expect to live, if they experienced the age/sex specific death rates that applied at their birth throughout their lifetimes.

Target established:

National Agreement on Closing the Gap July 2020

Latest dashboard update:

31 March 2022

Indicator type:

Target

Interpretation of change:

A higher or increasing life expectancy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and narrowing of the gap in life expectancy with non-Indigenous people is desirable.

Data source(s):

Name: ABS Life Tables for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians

Frequency: Five-yearly

Documentation (links): https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-peoples/life-tables-aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-australians/

Data provider:

Provider name: Australian Bureau of Statistics

Provider area: Demography

Baseline year:

2006 (3-year average of 2005-2007)

Latest reporting period

2016 (3-year average of 2015-2017)

Target year:

2031 (3-year average of 2030-2032)

Disaggregations:

Selected states and territories and Australia, by Indigenous status, by sex.

Australia, by remoteness area, by Indigenous status, by sex.

Australia, by Indigenous status, by Index of Relative Socioeconomic Disadvantage (IRSD), by sex.

Computation:

Counting rules

Direct estimation of the life expectancy gap at birth between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous people using the average number of deaths registered in the relevant three-year period and the estimated resident population (ERP) at the mid-point of that 3-year period, with adjustments for incomplete identification by Indigenous status.

The Australian headline life expectancy estimates are calculated taking age-specific identification rates into account.

The Australian total includes all states and territories (including Other Territories).

Disaggregations:

The data on deaths used to estimate life expectancy at birth by geographic area are based on usual residence of the deceased.

Sex relates to biological primary sexual characteristics.

Remoteness area is classified according to the ABS 2016 Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS) using SA2 as the building block. Life expectancy for people whose location of usual residence is either (1) categorised as ‘migratory’ or (2) not sufficient to identify their geographic area and assign remoteness area are excluded from the analysis by remoteness.

Socioeconomic status of the locality is classified according to the Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA): Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage (IRSD), 2016 using SA2 as the building block. Data are reported by IRSD quintile that are determined at the Australian level. Life expectancy for people whose location of usual residence is either (1) categorised as ‘migratory’ or (2) not sufficient to identify their geographic area and assign a socioeconomic status of the locality are excluded from the analysis by socioeconomic status.

Supporting calculations

The difference in life expectancy estimates between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous people, and confidence intervals (upper and lower limits). Confidence intervals are only available for estimates for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Calculation of differences are based on unrounded estimates.

Data quality considerations:

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous life tables are based on ERP (ABS 2017) (based on the Census of Population and Housing and the Census Post Enumeration Survey), death registration information provided by the State/Territory Registrars of Births, Deaths and Marriages, and the ABS Census Data Enhancement Indigenous Mortality Quality Study.

Life expectancy estimates by Indigenous status are produced for NSW, Queensland, WA and the NT only. These estimates are calculated without taking age-specific identification rates into account. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander estimates of life expectancy are not produced for Victoria, SA, Tasmania and the ACT due to the small number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander deaths reported in these jurisdictions.

Caution is required when interpreting trends in life expectancy estimates, because of changes in Indigenous identification across data collection and over time, and variation across geographies and socioeconomic groups.

The estimates by remoteness and IRSD are calculated without taking age-specific identification rates into account.

Future reporting:

Additional disaggregations required for future reporting:

  • All states/territories (currently only available for NSW, Queensland, WA, and the NT)
  • Disability.

Supporting indicators

Driver

  • All-cause mortality
  • Leading causes of death

    Infant mortality, child mortality, and five-yearly age groups

  • Potential avoidable mortality rates
  • Prevalence rates of health risk factors

    Smoking, alcohol and drug use, overweight and obese, dietary factors, physical activity

  • Rates of accessing/utilisation of health services

    General Practitioner (GP) visits, health assessments (Medicare Benefit 715), chronic disease care items (Team Care arrangement and GP Management Plan)

Contextual information

  • Hospitalisation rates by leading causes
  • Discharge against medical advice
  • Burden of disease from socioeconomic factors

Material for download

The Productivity Commission acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and their continuing connection to land, waters and community. We pay our respects to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures, Country and Elders past and present.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that this website may contain images, voices or names of people who have passed away.