This AIHW media release highlights how Australians are living longer than at any point in history. Over the past five decades, life expectancy has risen by 13.7 years for men and 11.2 years for women, driven by advances in healthcare, living conditions, and disease prevention. The report also shows a dramatic rise in centenarian deaths — from 1 in 1,214 deaths in 1964 to 1 in 72 deaths in 2021 — reflecting both population ageing and improved survival into very old age. Despite these gains, the maximum age at death has barely shifted, raising questions about biological limits to human lifespan.
Key Insights
- Life expectancy has increased steadily for over a century, rising about 3 months per year.
- Australia ranks 5th in the OECD for life expectancy (83.2 years).
- Centenarian deaths have grown from 0.08% of all deaths in 1964 to 1.40% in 2021.
- Super‑centenarian deaths (110+) remain extremely rare.
- Maximum lifespan shows minimal change, even as average life expectancy rises.
