Diet and nutrition in Australia - statistics & facts

According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, most Australians have a poor diet. The Australian dietary guidelines recommend a variety of foods including plenty of vegetables as well as fruit, grains, lean meat, and other protein, and low-fat dairy. However, Only around half of Australian adults eat the recommended daily serves of fruit and the vast majority are not consuming the recommended 5 to 6 servings of vegetables a day. Coupled with a high intake of discretionary foods like alcohol and salty snacks, long-term health conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and obesity are some of the most prevalent in the Australian population.

International comparisons

When compared with similarly developed countries, Australia is not far behind the United States in terms of obesity rates and is largely on par with the obesity rates in the UK, New Zealand, and Canada, all with a rate of around 30 percent of the adult population. The overweight figures for many of these countries are similarly high, bringing the total share of the population which is obese or overweight to well over 50 percent in most western developed countries. Obesity rates are commonly followed by the prevalence of other diet-related illnesses such as cardiovascular disease which is responsible for a mortality rate of almost 80 deaths per 100,000 of the population. Unsurprisingly, the rate of undernourishment in Australia is very low, especially when compared with neighboring countries in the Asia Pacific region such as Timor-Leste and Indonesia.

 Diet related illness

Over one million Australians are diabetic and around one in five men over the age of 75 have type 2 diabetes. High cholesterol is even more prevalent than diabetes, affecting around six percent of the population, and heart disease is the leading cause of death in males. While a poor diet is one significant risk factor for these illnesses, smoking, being overweight, and lack of exercise can also contribute to increasing the risk of developing chronic disease. The risk factors contributing to chronic disease are most prominent in the adult population, however, a large proportion of Australian children are not meeting the Australian dietary guidelines for fruit and vegetable consumption either. Being overweight is also an issue in the younger age groups, with around 15 percent of all children being overweight. Most children also ate more than the recommended amount of discretionary foods that are high in sodium, saturated fat, and sugar, but low in nutrients.

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Overweight population share: 72%

Leading underlying cause of death for men: Ischaemic heart diseases

Leading underlying case of death for women: Dementia, including Alzheimer's disease

Editor’s Picks Current statistics on this topic

Estimated average daily serves per capita in Australia in financial year 2021, by food group

Health, Pharma & Medtech

Estimated average daily serves per capita in Australia FY 2021, by food group

Ranking of the overweight population share in Australasia by country 2020

State of Health

Overweight population share in Australasia 2020, by country

Share of consumers who purchase complementary medicines in Australia in 2021

Pharmaceuticals

Leading complementary medicines purchased Australia 2021

Recommended statistics

Overview

Premium Statistic Obesity - prevalence in selected countries by gender 2021
Obesity - prevalence in selected countries by gender 2021
Prevalence of obesity among adults in selected countries as of 2021, or latest year available, by gender*
Premium Statistic Overweight population share in Australasia 2020, by country
Overweight population share in Australasia 2020, by country
Ranking of the overweight population share in Australasia by country 2020
Premium Statistic Prevalence of undernourishment APAC 2020, by country
Prevalence of undernourishment APAC 2020, by country
Share of population who are undernourished in the Asia-Pacific region in 2020, by country or territory
Basic Statistic Leading causes of death Australia 2021, by gender
Leading causes of death Australia 2021, by gender
Leading underlying causes of death in Australia in 2021, by gender
Basic Statistic Share of population with long-term health conditions Australia FY 2021, by condition
Share of population with long-term health conditions Australia FY 2021, by condition
Share of the population experiencing major long-term health conditions in Australia in financial year 2021, by condition

Diet and obesity in adults

Basic Statistic Share of adults meeting fruit and vegetable guidelines Australia 2021, by gender
Share of adults meeting fruit and vegetable guidelines Australia 2021, by gender
Share of adults meeting the Australian Dietary Guidelines for fruit and vegetables in Australia 2021, by gender
Basic Statistic Estimated average daily serves per capita in Australia FY 2021, by food group
Estimated average daily serves per capita in Australia FY 2021, by food group
Estimated average daily serves per capita in Australia in financial year 2021, by food group
Premium Statistic Share of overweight and obese adults Australia FY 2018
Share of overweight and obese adults Australia FY 2018
Share of overweight and obese adults in Australia in financial year 2018
Premium Statistic Share of overweight and obese persons in Australia in FY 2018, by age group
Share of overweight and obese persons in Australia in FY 2018, by age group
Share of overweight and obese persons in Australia in financial year 2018, by age group
Basic Statistic Breakdown of adult population in Australia FY 2018, by BMI range
Breakdown of adult population in Australia FY 2018, by BMI range
Breakdown of the adult population in Australia in financial year 2018, by body mass index range (in 1,000s)

Diet and obesity in children

Basic Statistic Share of children meeting fruit and vegetable recommendation in Australia 2021
Share of children meeting fruit and vegetable recommendation in Australia 2021
Share of children meeting the Australian Dietary Guidelines for fruit and vegetable consumption in Australia in 2021, by gender
Basic Statistic Children who meet fruit intake recommendations Australia FY 2021 by age
Children who meet fruit intake recommendations Australia FY 2021 by age
Share of children who meet recommendations for daily fruit intake in Australia in financial year 2021, by age group
Basic Statistic Children who meet vegetable intake recommendations Australia FY 2021, by age
Children who meet vegetable intake recommendations Australia FY 2021, by age
Share of children who meet recommendations for daily vegetable intake in Australia in financial year 2021, by age group
Basic Statistic Share of children consuming sweetened drinks in Australia 2021, by frequency
Share of children consuming sweetened drinks in Australia 2021, by frequency
Share of children who consume sweetened drinks in Australia in 2021, by frequency
Basic Statistic Number of underweight and overweight children in Australia, FY 2018
Number of underweight and overweight children in Australia, FY 2018
Number of underweight, normal and overweight children in Australia in financial year 2018 (in thousands)
Basic Statistic Share of overweight and obese children Australia FY 2018, by age group
Share of overweight and obese children Australia FY 2018, by age group
Share of overweight and obese children in Australia in financial year 2018, by age group

Nutrition

Basic Statistic Average daily vitamin intake per capita in Australia FY 2021, by type
Average daily vitamin intake per capita in Australia FY 2021, by type
Estimated average daily vitamin intake per capita in Australia in financial year 2021, by type (in micrograms)
Basic Statistic Average daily mineral intake per capita in Australia FY 2021, by type
Average daily mineral intake per capita in Australia FY 2021, by type
Estimated average daily mineral intake per capita in Australia in financial year 2021, by type (in milligrams)
Basic Statistic Average daily macronutrient intake per capita in Australia FY 2021, by type
Average daily macronutrient intake per capita in Australia FY 2021, by type
Estimated average daily macronutrient intake per capita in Australia in financial year 2021, by type (in grams)
Basic Statistic Proportion of carbohydrate available from AUSNUT food groups in Australia FY 2021
Proportion of carbohydrate available from AUSNUT food groups in Australia FY 2021
Average daily proportion of carbohydrate available per capita from selected AUSNUT food groupings in Australia in financial year 2021, by major food group
Basic Statistic Proportion of protein available from AUSNUT food groups in Australia FY 2021
Proportion of protein available from AUSNUT food groups in Australia FY 2021
Average daily proportion of protein available per capita from selected AUSNUT food groupings in Australia in financial year 2021, by major food group
Basic Statistic Proportion of fiber available from AUSNUT food groups in Australia FY 2021
Proportion of fiber available from AUSNUT food groups in Australia FY 2021
Average daily proportion of fiber available per capita from selected AUSNUT food groupings in Australia in financial year 2021, by major food group

Diabetes

Basic Statistic Number of people with diabetes Australia FY 2008-2021
Number of people with diabetes Australia FY 2008-2021
Number of people with diabetes mellitus in Australia from financial year 2008 to 2021 (in 1,000s people)
Premium Statistic Rate of type 1 diabetes diagnoses in Australia 2006-2020
Rate of type 1 diabetes diagnoses in Australia 2006-2020
Rate of type 1 diabetes diagnoses in Australia from 2006 to 2020 (per 100,000 population)
Premium Statistic Prevalence of type 2 diabetes in Australia 2020 by age group and gender
Prevalence of type 2 diabetes in Australia 2020 by age group and gender
Prevalence of type 2 diabetes across Australia in 2020, by age group and gender
Premium Statistic Deaths caused by diabetes in Australia 2005-2020
Deaths caused by diabetes in Australia 2005-2020
Number of deaths per 100,000 population caused by diabetes as underlying cause in Australia from 2005 to 2020
Premium Statistic Number of diabetes prescriptions dispensed Australia FY 2021, by type of medicine
Number of diabetes prescriptions dispensed Australia FY 2021, by type of medicine
Number of diabetes prescriptions dispensed in Australia in financial year 2021, by type of medicine

Other diet related illness

Premium Statistic Cancer burden (DALYs) attributable to specific risk factors Australia 2018
Cancer burden (DALYs) attributable to specific risk factors Australia 2018
Total cancer burden attributable to specific risk factors in Australia in 2018 (in disability adjusted life years)
Basic Statistic Number of people with normal and high blood pressure Australia FY 2018
Number of people with normal and high blood pressure Australia FY 2018
Number of people with normal, high and severe blood pressure in Australia in financial year 2018 (in thousands)
Basic Statistic Population with high blood pressure Australia FY 2018, by age group
Population with high blood pressure Australia FY 2018, by age group
Distribution of the population with high blood pressure in Australia in financial year 2018, by age group*
Basic Statistic Number of people with osteoporosis in Australia FY 2005-2018
Number of people with osteoporosis in Australia FY 2005-2018
Number of people with osteoporosis in Australia from financial year 2005 to 2018 (in 1,000s people)
Basic Statistic Number of people with hay fever and allergies in Australia FY 2005-2018
Number of people with hay fever and allergies in Australia FY 2005-2018
Number of people with hay fever and allergies in Australia from financial year 2005 to 2018 (in 1,000s people)

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Key figures

The most important key figures provide you with a compact summary of the topic of "Diet and nutrition in Australia" and take you straight to the corresponding statistics.

Share of consumers who buy nutritional supplements
23%
Detailed statistics
Leading complementary medicines purchased Australia 2021
Average per capita intake of calcium
785mg
Detailed statistics
Average daily mineral intake per capita in Australia FY 2021, by type
Average per capita intake of protein
79.6g
Detailed statistics
Average daily macronutrient intake per capita in Australia FY 2021, by type