Young, sun safe brothers at the beach enjoying Queensland's weather and being active outdoors.
Summary
The Health of Queenslanders: Report of the Chief Health Officer Queensland 2025 edition is now available.
Read on to find out the main health issues affecting Queenslanders in 2025 that have been identified in the report.
Only have a few minutes? Check out our report snapshot for key takeaways on the health of Queenslanders for 2025.
We know that Queensland’s warm climate, beaches and relaxed lifestyle make the Sunshine State a great place to live, but there’s more good news.
New data revealed in The Health of Queenslanders: Report of the Chief Health Officer Queensland 2025 edition shows that Queenslanders are living longer and deaths have reduced for some preventable health conditions.
The Health of Queenslanders report provides an assessment on the health status of Queenslanders, which helps to inform health policy development and program planning.
While the previous report in 2023 was headlined by the response and outcomes of the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s report is focused on the future of public health.
You can read a snapshot of the report’s key findings here, but for a better understanding of the main health issues impacting Queenslanders in 2025 and beyond, keep reading.
What are the main concerns in 2025?
In 2025, increasing vaping habits, declining childhood immunisation rates, increasing overweight and obesity, preventable conditions in pregnancy, and the rise of dementia rates are of most concern for Queenslanders.
Patient and nurse at Longreach Hospital.
Concerning vaping habits of young Queenslanders
Adult vaping has quadrupled since 2018, while the proportion of high school students who vaped in the past month has more than tripled since 2017.
Queensland’s Chief Health Officer Dr Heidi Carroll said while daily tobacco smoking rates have decreased, the uptake of vaping, particularly in children and teenagers is alarming.
“More than 45 per cent of Queensland school students aged 16 to 17 have vaped at least once, while more than 30 per cent of younger students aged 12 to 13 have also tried vaping,” Dr Carroll said.
Dr Carroll said children particularly needed to be aware of the dangers of vaping later in life.
“The range of health risks linked to vaping include damage to lungs, nicotine addiction and toxicity and increasing evidence of adverse effects on mental health,” she said.
See the full report’s findings about vapes and electronic cigarettes here.
The truth behind a common vaping claim:
Despite the claim that ‘vaping is effective for smoking cessation’, a recent Australian review concluded there was strong evidence that non-smokers who vape are three times more likely to go on to smoke cigarettes.
Visit Queensland Health’s There’s Nothing Sweet About Vapes campaign here to learn more.
Health outcomes in cities vs regional areas
The outside of Winton Hospital.
Chief Health Officer Dr Carroll said those living in regional, and remote communities have poorer health outcomes compared to those in Queensland’s major cities, and this is particularly the case for First Nations peoples.
“While there have been gains in life expectancy and improvements in some health measures, there are also health conditions that disproportionately impact these communities,” she said.
“We know the environment, access to services, and social norms play a role in influencing lifestyle choices and health outcomes for Queenslanders in regional and remote areas.
“Those in remote areas are two and a half times more likely to be smoking daily and are 21 per cent more likely to be consuming alcohol at risky levels compared to those living in major cities.
“We even see a gap in cancer screenings – in 2022 to 2023 the bowel cancer screening rate for people in Brisbane was more than 67 per cent higher compared to people living in very remote areas.
“Health literacy and access to health services in rural and remote areas is one of Queensland Health’s top priorities.”
Standardised hospitalisation rates in remote areas compared to Brisbane were:
Standardised hospitalisation rates in the financial year 2022-23 , for remote areas compared to major cities.
Achieving equity in health outcomes for rural and remote Queenslanders is complex and heightened by unique barriers to accessing healthcare.
Barriers include:
- limited infrastructure
- vast distances
- poorer connectivity between towns to health services
- higher cost of health services and living
- harsh drought or flood-stricken environments.
- cultural differences
- attitudes towards healthcare
- social isolation.
See the full report’s findings on regional health here.
Queensland Health is working to eliminate health inequalities faced by regional and remote communities through:
Childhood immunisation rates declining
Chief Health Officer Dr Carroll added that continuing decline in state and national vaccination rates since 2020, particularly for pertussis and influenza, was also high on her radar.
“Since 2020, childhood vaccination rates have steadily fallen not just in Queensland, but globally,” she said.
“The Queensland target is 95 per cent coverage for children, however, we’re currently seeing 91.6 per cent coverage for one-year-olds and 90.1 per cent for two-year-olds.”
“These rates are very concerning. Vaccination is the best measure to reduce serious illness, hospitalisation, and death from many vaccine preventable diseases, including pertussis and measles.
“Many vaccine preventable diseases are highly contagious and can be deadly, especially among young children, and I encourage parents to ensure their children are up to date with recommended vaccinations.”
See the full report’s findings on immunisation here.
Keeping up to date with your family’s immunisations can be hard. Visit the Immunisation Schedule to find out more on how to best protect yourself and your loved ones.
Weight concerns for Queensland adults and children
Aiming for a variety of fruit and veggies every day is one way to achieve a healthy diet.
Being overweight or obese has overtaken tobacco use as the leading modifiable risk factor for total health burden.
If someone is overweight or obese they are more susceptible to serious conditions such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, musculoskeletal conditions, and cancer.
In 2022, nearly 70 per cent of Queensland adults were overweight or obese, along with over 32 per cent of children aged five to 17.
Chief Health Officer Dr Carroll said that Queenslanders living in regional areas and in more disadvantaged areas can see higher rates of obesity as well as overweight adults and children.
“We know that adults in remote and very remote areas are about 60 per cent more likely to be obese than those living in major cities,” she said.
“Children living in the most disadvantaged areas were 2.6 times more likely to be overweight or obese than children living in the most advantaged areas.”
“Weight is a complex health challenge that is affected by a range of factors, including genetics, family history, social and environmental factors, lifestyle behaviours, some medications, and other health conditions someone might have or develop.
“Modifiable risk factors are lifestyle habits - like physical exercise, diet or smoking - that we can change to reduce the risk of developing certain conditions and disease.”
See the full report’s findings on lifestyle and weight concerns of Queenslanders here.
Through Making Healthy Happen 2032, we’re encouraging Queenslanders to lead happy and healthy lives.
Shaping up to improve your health and wellbeing is not about focussing on a diet or looking for quick fix solutions. Changing your habits bit by bit each day is key. Start by:
- Making realistic, sensible changes for a healthy diet – aim for a variety of fruit and veggies every day, ditch sugary drinks, and introduce whole foods like whole grains, lean proteins, and beans.
- Being more active every day – each bit counts. Pick a podcast and go for a short walk, try an at-home workout, or grab a friend to try new things with like tennis or swimming. Making it fun and enjoyable is the key to consistency!
If you’re looking to make positive changes to your lifestyle, visit the Health and Wellbeing website. Here, you can explore healthy, hand-picked resources, such as:
Healthy pregnancies and what can be improved
Young family with day old baby.
Pregnancy is a critical time that can influence the future health of both mum and bub.
Chief Health Officer Dr Carroll said that many health conditions that can arise during pregnancy are preventable.
“I’m concerned that the rates of women diagnosed with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), have more than doubled since 2012,” she said.
“We know that GDM is one of the most common medical conditions impacting a pregnancy, and it’s linked to future diabetes risk for both mum and bub.”
Dr Carroll is also concerned about rates of smoking during pregnancy.
“Our report shows that 11 per cent of Queensland women had smoked during their pregnancy in 2022,” she said.
“Sadly, it’s one of the main contributors to stillbirths.”
Queensland Health has launched the Queensland Birth Strategy 2024-2030, which aims to improve birth outcomes and women’s experiences.
Offering women more choice, greater access to care, education, and support is crucial for mum, bub, family, and the wider health system.
See the full report’s findings on healthy pregnancies here.
- Choose what’s right for you and your pregnancy journey here.
- Queensland Health offers a variety of tailored quit smoking support programs and tools at Quit QH.
- Find more about the Queensland Birth Strategy 2024-2030 here.
- Growing Deadly Families Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Maternity Services Strategy 2019-2025 can be found here.
Climbing rates of dementia
Close-up of elderly lady crocheting at Julia Creek Hospital.
While Queenslanders are living longer lives, dementia rates are climbing.
Dr Carroll said dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, may soon become the leading cause of death, overtaking coronary heart disease.
“There has been a staggering 160 per cent increase in dementia death rates from 2002 to 2022,” she said.
“It was the leading cause of death in Queensland for women, while the leading cause for males was coronary heart disease.
“As we grow older our risk of developing dementia increases.
“While we can’t do much about ageing, we can control other factors in our lives to help lower the risk of developing dementia.
“Exercising regularly, healthy eating, quitting smoking and vaping, avoiding or limiting alcohol, and keeping an active mind can all help lower the chances of developing dementia.”
See the full report’s findings on mortality measures here.
More than 421,000 Australians are living with dementia, and more than 1.6 million people in Australia are involved in caring for someone with dementia.
If you’re worried about you or someone you know experiencing signs of dementia, visit Dementia Australia for information and support.