More Australians to live into their 90s as life expectancy forecast to rise over coming decades
News Source
•Sun, 20 Sep 2026 04:32:26 GMT
📰 What Happened
Treasury’s latest intergenerational report says Australians will live longer. Life expectancy at birth is set to reach 89 for women and 86 for men by 2066. That is up from about 86 years for women and 82 for men today. The full report comes out on Monday.
The report looks 40 years ahead at how government policies will affect the country. It also says artificial intelligence will become the main force shaping the economy. Treasurer Jim Chalmers warned that AI brings very serious risks.
🔍 The Backstory
The intergenerational report is released every few years. It helps governments plan for an older population. It looks at health, spending and the workforce. Past reports have warned about the rising cost of caring for older Australians.
Better healthcare and medical research are the main reasons people live longer. Australian households are also expected to get smaller. The population is now expected to be slightly lower in the mid-2060s than earlier forecasts suggested.
🎯 Why It Matters
This matters because longer lives change pensions, healthcare and work. Many people may need to save more or work for more years. Families could also have more time together.
Treasury’s latest intergenerational report says Australians will live longer. Life expectancy at birth is set to reach 89 for women and 86 for men by 2066. That is up from about 86 years for women and 82 for men today. The full report comes out on Monday.
The report looks 40 years ahead at how government policies will affect the country. It also says artificial intelligence will become the main force shaping the economy. Treasurer Jim Chalmers warned that AI brings very serious risks.
The intergenerational report is released every few years. It helps governments plan for an older population. It looks at health, spending and the workforce. Past reports have warned about the rising cost of caring for older Australians.
Better healthcare and medical research are the main reasons people live longer. Australian households are also expected to get smaller. The population is now expected to be slightly lower in the mid-2060s than earlier forecasts suggested.
This matters because longer lives change pensions, healthcare and work. Many people may need to save more or work for more years. Families could also have more time together.