Health literacy
Definition: Proportion of 15–74-year-olds with health literacy above the minimum level regarded as necessary for understanding and using information relating to health issues.
![](https://viz.aihw.gov.au:443//t/Public/views/IND_01Incidenceofheartattacks/IND_12HealthliteracyDASH.png?:embed=y&:showVizHome=no&:display_spinner=no&:host_url=https%3a%2f%2fviz.aihw.gov.au%2f&filter=iframeSizedToWindow%3dtrue&embed_code_version=3&tabs=no&toolbar=yes&showAppBanner=false&display_count=no)
Source: ABS 2008b; Table S1.4.12.
- In 2006, 41% of Australians aged 15–74 were assessed as having adequate or more than adequate health literacy skills (ABS 2008b).
- Half (50%) of all people aged 30–39 had health literacy skills that were adequate or better. Less than one-quarter (22%) of people aged 60–74 had health literacy skills that were adequate or better.
- Levels of health literacy skills were similar for males and females – 40% of males and 41% of females had adequate or better health literacy skills.
For more information, see Chapter 4.3 'Health literacy'.