Fast facts
What does arthritis look like in Australia?
- More than 7 million Australians live with arthritis and/or a musculoskeletal conditioni
- 4.11 million Australians have arthritis. This will rise to 5.39 million by 2040, and could reach 5.56 million by 2040 in a high population growth scenarioii
- Arthritis affects more women than men. Over 3.24 million women and over 2.17 million men are forecast to be living with arthritis by 2040iii
- 3,109,722 Australians could be affected by osteoarthritis by 2040, with 80% higher prevalence in womeniv
- 748,721 Australians could be affected by rheumatoid arthritis by 2040v
- Up to 30,000 children and young adults aged 0-24 are affected by juvenile arthritis in Australiavi
- Arthritis and musculoskeletal conditions account for 13% of the total burden of disease in Australiaviii
- Arthritis is the 2nd most common cause of early retirement due to ill-health in Australiaix
- Three quarters of people living with arthritis also have one or more other chronic health conditionsx
- Over 20% of people living with arthritis disability need assistance with a daily activityxi
The disease
- There are more than 100 different types of arthritis
- Arthritis impacts all ages, children can get arthritis too
- Many forms of arthritis are be auto-immune conditions, where the body’s immune system attacks its own joint tissues
- Osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and gout are the most common forms of arthritis
The cost
- More than 2.83 million people with arthritis are of working age (15-64 years)xii
- 59,000 people aged 15-54 years are projected to be unable to work due to arthritis by 2030xiii
- By 2030 loss of personal income due to arthritis is projected at $2.6 billion, with the cost to the government of over $1.1 billion a year in extra welfare payments and lost taxation revenue.xiv
- Lost GDP due to arthritis-related early retirement will reach $9.4 billion a year by 2030.xv Lost GDP due to back pain is estimated to be $10.5 billion.xvi
- Survey finding: 48% report cutting back on allied healthcare spending due to cost-of-living pressuresxvii
- Arthritis and musculoskeletal conditions cost the health system an estimated $15.9 billion in 2022-23, with osteoarthritis the second most expensive condition to the health system at $4.9 billionxviii
- Arthritis alone is projected to cost the health system costs $11.92 billion by 2040xix
Downloadable graphics:
Updated: June 2025
i AIHW (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare) (2024) Chronic musculoskeletal conditions , AIHW, Australian Government, accessed 27 May 2026.
ii The future burden of arthritis in Australia: Projections to the year 2040: Arthritis-projection-2040-web-version.pdf
iii The future burden of arthritis in Australia: Projections to the year 2040: Arthritis-projection-2040-web-version.pdf
iv The future burden of arthritis in Australia: Projections to the year 2040: Arthritis-projection-2040-web-version.pdf
v The future burden of arthritis in Australia: Projections to the year 2040: Arthritis-projection-2040-web-version.pdf
vi AIHW (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare) (2024) Chronic musculoskeletal conditions , AIHW, Australian Government, accessed 27 May 2026.
viii AIHW (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare) (2024) Australian Burden of Disease Study 2024, AIHW, Australian Government, accessed 27 May 2026.
ix Schofield D, S.R., Cunich M, Counting the cost: the current and future burden of arthritis: Part 2 Economic Costs. 2016.
x AIHW (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare) (2024) Chronic musculoskeletal conditions , AIHW, Australian Government, accessed 27 May 2026.
xi The projected burden of arthritis among adults and children in Australia to the year 2040: a population-level forecasting study. Ackerman, Ilana N et al. The Lancet Rheumatology, DOI: 10.1016/S2665-9913(24)00247-9
xii The future burden of arthritis in Australia: Projections to the year 2040: Arthritis-projection-2040-web-version.pdf
xiii Schofield D, S.R., Cunich M, Counting the cost: the current and future burden of arthritis: Part 2 Economic Costs. 2016.
xiv Schofield D, S.R., Cunich M, Counting the cost: the current and future burden of arthritis: Part 2 Economic Costs. 2016.
xvi Docking SI, Ackerman IN, Buchbinder R, Zomer E, Liew D, Ademi Z. Productivity Losses Due to Long-Term Back Problems in Working-Age Australians. JAMA Netw Open. 2025;8(8):e2527284. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.27284
xviii AIHW (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare) (2024) Health system spending on disease and injury in Australia 2022–23, AIHW, Australian Government, accessed 27 May 2026.
xix The projected burden of arthritis among adults and children in Australia to the year 2040: a population-level forecasting study. Ackerman, Ilana N et al. The Lancet Rheumatology, DOI: 10.1016/S2665-9913(24)00247-9