Asthma prevalence 2020-2021 (ABS, NHS)

According the National Health Survey for 2020-2021 (a year impacted by the Covid pandemic), it is estimated that:
• Just under 2.7 million (10.7%) Australians had asthma in 2020-21 (ref 1)
• Females were more likely than males to have asthma (12.0% compared to 9.4%) (ref 1)
• The rate of asthma was similar in boys and girls aged 0-14 years (9.5% and 7.9%) (ref 1)
• 411,000 children aged 0-14 have asthma (8.7%) (ref 2)
Note: due to Covid restrictions, data for the NHS 2020/21 was self-reported online rather than via interviews, and with a low response rate. Therefore it is less representative compared to previous NHS and comparisons with previous reports are limited (see Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2022) Chronic respiratory conditions, AIHW, Australian Government, accessed 20 July 2022. https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/australias-health/chronic-respiratory-conditions for details).

Proportion of people with asthma by age and sex, 2020-21 (ref 2)
Males (%) Females (%)
0-14 9.5 7.9
15-24 9 11.8
25-34 10.6 9.7
35-44 10.4 12.1
45-54 6.5 14.2
55-64 11.2 13.7
65-74 7.5 13.5
75+ 10.7 17.6
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Asthma 2020-21 financial year

 

Categories: Children and young people, Prevalence
Author: Agnes
Entry Date: 20/07/2022
Source 1 Name: Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) 2022; National Health Survey 2020-2021: Asthma. ABS previously used Cat no. 4364.0.55.002. Canberra: ABS.
Source 1 URL: https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/health/health-conditions-and-risks/asthma/2020-21
Source 2 Name: Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) 2022; National Health Survey 2020-2021: Asthma.
Source 2 URL: https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/health/health-conditions-and-risks/asthma/2020-21