Asthma prevalence in Census 2021 (ABS, PHIDU)
The Census 2021 data was released, including a question on whether people had asthma. The ABS media release reported:(ref 1)
– Asthma was the third most reported long-term condition, with 2,068,020 people reporting having asthma
– Asthma is the most commonly reported health condition for 0–14 year olds, with a notable difference between male children with 7.4%reporting asthma compared to 5.3% of female children.
Note: ABS recommends to use the National Health Survey rather than the Census as definite and correct source for national prevalence rates.
PHIDU maps: (ref 2)
The Public Health Information Development Unit has mapped the results from the ABS Census 2021, including asthma prevalence.
Note that when available, particularly for national or state prevalence, data from the National Health Survey is more reliable and preferred over the Census data.
Prevalence is reported as age-standardised rates (the ABS reports crude rates).
| Age-standardised rate of asthma per 100 population (Census 2021, PHIDU) | |||
| All Ages | 0-14 years | 15 years and over | |
| AUSTRALIA | 8.1 | 6.3 | 8.5 |
| NSW | 7.8 | 6.6 | 8.0 |
| VIC | 8.3 | 6.4 | 8.8 |
| QLD | 8.5 | 6.2 | 9.0 |
| SA | 8.9 | 6.6 | 9.4 |
| WA | 7.4 | 5.6 | 7.8 |
| TAS | 9.3 | 7.7 | 9.7 |
| NT | 5.7 | 3.7 | 6.1 |
| ACT | 9.0 | 6.6 | 9.5 |
Data can be visualised for ages 0-14, 15+ or all-ages, and by states and territories, Local Government Areas (LGAs), Population Health Areas (PHAs) or Public Health Networks (PHNs) here: https://phidu.torrens.edu.au/social-health-atlases/maps#2021-census-population-health-areas
