Impact of lung disease

Lung disease touches countless lives in Australia, impacting individuals, families and communities. It’s a complex health issue with many different forms and it has a big impact. Understanding the facts about lung disease is an important step toward recognising its impact and ensuring everyone affected receives the support they deserve. We believe that everyone deserves care and support, no matter their background or health history.

Here are some important facts to help you understand its reach:

• There are over 30 types of lung disease
• Almost 1 in 3 Australians has a lung disease¹
• Lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are among the top 10 leading causes of disease burden in Australia. The “burden of disease” is a measure of the impact of living with illness, injury and dying prematurely²
• Lung diseases are some of the main causes of death in Australia. In 2023, lung cancer was the fourth main cause of death, while chronic lower respiratory diseases (including COPD) were the fifth³
• Together, lung diseases cost the Australian healthcare system about $13.9 billion. This is 8% of all money spent on health for diseases, and it’s more than double what is spent on diabetes and kidney disease combined⁴
• Lung diseases can affect some groups of people more than others. This includes First Nations people, those from lower income households, and people living in regional, rural or remote parts of Australia^{5, 6}
• Anyone can get lung disease. It affects men, women, children, smokers, ex-smokers and people who have never smoked. Everyone is equally worthy of care and support.

Facts about specific lung diseases

Lung cancer

Lung cancer affects many people each year in Australia, and it’s a serious health concern.

• In 2024, it was predicted that more than 15,000 people would be diagnosed with lung cancer⁷
• More than 34,000 people were living with lung cancer at the end of 2020⁷
• Lung cancer is Australia’s main cause of cancer death. It caused over 8,000 deaths in 2023 alone and was the main cause of cancer death in every state and territory³
• 1 in 4 people with lung cancer survive 5 years after their diagnosis⁷
• 1 in 3 women and 1 in 10 men diagnosed with lung cancer have never smoked.¹⁰

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

COPD is a major lung disease that impacts the daily lives of many Australians. Knowing the facts about COPD helps us understand its widespread effects and why support is so important.

• In 2022, over 600,000 people were living with COPD⁸
• COPD is a leading cause of hospital stays that could have been avoided. In 2022-23, it caused more than 64,000 hospital stays that could have been prevented⁹
• COPD caused over 7,000 deaths in 2023.⁵

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF)

IPF is a rare but very serious lung disease that can have devastating effects. Because it’s not as well known, understanding its impact is even more important. It’s a rare and progressive lung disease that causes permanent scarring of the lungs. While we don’t know the exact number of people affected by IPF in Australia, experts believe about 1,250 people are diagnosed with the disease each year.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH)

PAH is another serious lung disease where getting a diagnosis quickly is often a challenge. Here’s why knowing about it early and taking action are so important.

• A PAH diagnosis is delayed by about 3.9 years on average¹¹
• On average, it takes 5 visits to a GP before a specialist referral is given.

Bronchiectasis

Bronchiectasis is a common lung disease caused by ongoing infection that damages the lungs. Understanding more about it can help us become more aware of its impact on many Australians.

• Females and older people are more frequently affected.¹²

Rare lung disease in children

When children are diagnosed with a rare lung disease, families often face unique challenges because there isn’t much information or support available. In Australia, there is currently very little information, support, medications and research available about children diagnosed with a rare lung disease. This shows a big need for more attention and help.

Challenges in Australia

Beyond the physical effects of lung disease, many people also face the burden of stigma. This can create big problems in getting the care and support they need and deserve. Here’s how it can affect them:

• The stigma around lung disease is a major barrier to getting research, funding, treatment, and support
• 1 in 6 Australians believe people with lung disease who have smoked deserve less support¹³
• More than one third (35%) of Australians think those with lung cancer are their ‘own worst enemy’ and 10% will say they ‘got what they deserved’¹³
• We can be quick to judge others but not ourselves. 58% of Australians admit to being a smoker or having smoked before, but only 3% would think it ‘deserved’ if they were diagnosed with lung cancer¹³
• For 40% of the population, the first question they would ask someone diagnosed with lung cancer is whether they smoked, even though lung cancer can affect anyone¹³
• In a worldwide survey across 15 countries, Australians had the least sympathy for someone diagnosed with lung cancer compared to other cancers, because of its link with tobacco smoking.¹⁰

Those living with lung cancer and other lung diseases feel the negative effects of their diagnosis and the stigma.¹⁴

• 63% experienced major impacts on their relationships¹⁵
• 60% do the things they love, like hobbies, less often¹⁵
• 57% of people with a lung disease have experienced stigma¹⁵
• 88% feel that the community assumes anyone with a lung disease has a history of smoking¹⁵
• Almost 1 in 4 people feel less deserving of help than people with other medical conditions¹⁵

References

1. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, (2024), Australia’s health 2024 – in brief
2. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, (2024), Australian Burden of Disease Study 2024
3. Australian Bureau of Statistics, (2024), Causes of Death, Australia
4. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, (2024), Health system spending on disease and injury in Australia 2022-23
5. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, (2025), Deaths in Australia – variation in deaths between population groups
6. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, (2024), Chronic respiratory conditions
7. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, (2024), Cancer data in Australia
8. Australian Bureau of Statistics, (2023), Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
9. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, (2023), Admitted patient care 2022-2023  
10. Ipsos MORI. (2011). Perceptions of Lung Cancer in Australia
11. Strange, Gabbay, Kermeen, et al. (2013). [Time from Symptoms to Definitive Diagnosis of Idiopathic Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: The Delay Study Pulmonary Circulation. 2013;3(1):89-94.
12. Bronchiectasis Toolbox, Prevalence of bronchiectasis
13. Lung Foundation Australia, (2017), PureProfile Consumer Survey.
14. Lung Foundation Australia, (2017), Patient Survey.
15. Lung Foundation Australia, (2024), Lived Experience Research Survey.