Australia
Leading cause: Cancer · 41% plant-based · 83.2 yr life expectancy · UHC 89/100
What People Eat
AUSDIAB study: plant-forward eaters in Australia show 41% lower risk of metabolic syndrome and significantly lower BMI.
Disease Burden
Leading cause of death: Cancer · 140 / 100k
Bars show each rate against the global range; the tick marks the world median.
Cancer (140/100k) leads Australian mortality, with heart disease (98/100k) lower thanks to good healthcare and an active outdoor culture. The AUSDIAB study found plant-forward eaters had 41% lower metabolic-syndrome risk, yet roughly four in five Australians fall short of vegetable recommendations.
Healthcare System
Sources: WHO UHC Service Coverage Index (SDG 3.8.1) & WHO Global Health Expenditure Database. Latest available year.
What Could Improve
- Close the vegetable gap, over 80% of Australians don't meet intake guidelines.
- Add legumes and whole grains, linked in AUSDIAB to far lower metabolic-syndrome risk.
- Cut ultra-processed foods and sugary drinks driving obesity and diabetes.
Explore the evidence: Cancer
AUSDIAB · Hodge et al., 2020
→ 82% of Australians don't meet vegetable recommendations