Spotlighting Australia in the Hologic Global Women's Health Index
The Hologic Global Women’s Health Index reveals the state of women’s health. Learn about how Australian women feel about their health and well-being in the Year 5 Report.
About the Index
Since 2020, the Hologic Global Women’s Health Index has tracked women’s health across multiple dimensions: Preventive Care, Emotional Health, Opinions of Health and Safety, Basic Needs and Individual Health.
The Year 5 Index report is based on surveys conducted in 2024 in person and by telephone with over 145,000 women and men aged 15 or older in 144 countries and territories. The findings in this report are representative of 97% of the global adult population.
Australia's Performance
Over the past five years, Australia's Hologic Global Women's Health Index score has steadily declined to 59, its lowest recorded level and unchanged from the previous year. While this is above the Year 5 global average of 54, the continued downward trend highlights ongoing challenges in women's health and wellbeing.
See how women’s health measures up around the world.
Key Findings
Despite Australia's comparatively strong healthcare system, the findings point to persistent challenges in preventive health, emotional wellbeing, basic needs and personal safety. Together, these factors paint a picture of women's health that extends beyond clinical care and highlights the need for more holistic approaches to improving health outcomes and quality of life.
Five Years of Data Across the Five Dimensions
Declining rating across Emotional Health and Basic Needs.
Across all dimensions except Preventive Care, Australian women's health indicators have declined over the past five years. The most notable deteriorations were in Emotional Health (-6 points), Opinions of Health and Safety (-6 points), Basic Needs (-8 points) and Individual Health (-5 points). While access to basic needs remains relatively strong compared to other measures, the consistent downward trend across multiple indicators highlights growing pressures on women's physical, emotional, financial and social wellbeing.
Testing for deadly diseases is improving but remains low.
The data suggests Australian women are more likely to access testing for established chronic conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes than for cancer or sexual health. The persistently low uptake of cancer (23%) and STI (10%) screening may represent missed opportunities for early detection and intervention.
Negative emotions worsen.
More Australian women are worried, sad, stressed and angry than they were 4 years ago. Stress levels in Australia exceeded the global average of 38%. More than half of Australian women (52%) reported feeling stressed for a significant portion of the previous day.
Many women feel unsafe walking alone at night; Many are dissatisfied with pregnancy care.
Many Australian women – more than five in 10 – do not feel safe walking alone at night. Confidence in the quality of pregnancy care has declined, with fewer Australians believing that women in their area receive high-quality pregnancy care.
More women struggle to afford food and shelter.
Fewer Australians report having enough money to meet their basic needs, with more women facing challenges in affording essentials such as food and housing.
Physical pain is a significant problem.
More than three in ten Australian women (31%) reported experiencing a lot of physical pain during the previous day, while 28% say health problems limit their ability to carry out normal daily activities.
Hear from Kensi Naicker, General Manager of Hologic Australia and New Zealand, as he talks about Australia's results in the Year 5 Hologic Global Women's Health Index, and why it was important for Hologic to be the Platinum presenting partner of the Conquering Breast Cancer documentary.
Get in touch
For media enquiries or to schedule a briefing, please contact us at ANZwomenshealthindex@hologic.com.
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