Life expectancy at birth: Overcoming Indigenous Disadvantage: Key Indicators 2007

WuChopperen Health Service, QLD, WuChopperen Health Service health worker Virginia Coutts with Noah Noble and Tiana Yeatman. Indigenous Governance Awards Finalist 2006. Photo courtesy of Wayne Quilliam and Reconciliation Australia. Life expectancy is an indicator of the long-term health and wellbeing of a population. This indicator refers to the average number of years a person could expect to live if there was no change to the population’s death rates throughout his or her lifetime. Improvements in outcomes across all of the strategic areas for action have the potential to affect life expectancy.

Life expectancy can be affected by levels of income and education, and access to effective and appropriate health care. Environmental factors, such as lack of clean drinking water or adequate sanitation, can accentuate health risks, particularly for babies and young children. Lifestyle factors, such as consumption of tobacco and excessive alcohol, poor nutrition and lack of exercise can contribute to high levels of chronic disease and lower life expectancy.

Life Expectancy at Birth, Indigenous 1996-2001, Total Population 1998-2000

KEY MESSAGES

The life expectancy of Indigenous people is estimated to be around 17 years lower than that for the total Australian population (figure 3.1.1).

The most recent estimates indicate that life expectancy at birth is 59 years for Indigenous males compared with 77 years for males in the total population, and 65 years for Indigenous females compared with 82 years for females in the total population (figure 3.1.1).

In 2005, death rates in all age groups were higher for Indigenous people than for non-Indigenous people. The greatest differences were for those aged between 35 and 54, where Indigenous death rates were five to six times those for non-Indigenous people (table 3.1.2).

Report Chapter 3: Headline Indicators
(PDF document)

Attachment 3A
(Excel document)

See next indicator: Disability and chronic disease.