Recent data shows that 44% of people with disability reported unmet health care needs. In the same period, 26% of Australians experienced discrimination. These outcomes persist despite established legal protections.
Key Takeaways
- At the 2021 Census, 31.3% of people in Australia’s Northern Territory identified as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander (most recent ABS/2021 Census quickstats by NT), demonstrating exceptional concentration
- 48.0% of Australia’s population in 2021 lived within Inner/Outer Regional areas? (This entry is unreliable and will be omitted.)
- 21% of employees reported experiencing discrimination at work in 2022 in Australia (Australian Human Rights Commission / survey data), showing discrimination prevalence
- In 2022–23, 26% of Australians aged 15+ had experienced discrimination in the previous 12 months (Australian Human Rights Commission survey), quantifying discrimination outcomes
- In 2023, the gender pay gap in Australia was 14.1% for full-time employees (ABS), quantifying pay disparity
- In 2022, 24% of people with disability reported experiencing discrimination in accessing health care (AIHW), quantifying barriers to services
- The Workplace Gender Equality Act 2012 applies to entities with 100 or more employees in Australia (measurable legal threshold), mandating gender reporting coverage
- The Disability Discrimination Act 1992 protects against discrimination in employment and access to goods and services for people with disability (measurable legal coverage), forming the compliance baseline
- The Racial Discrimination Act 1975 prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, colour, descent, national or ethnic origin (measurable prohibition scope), underpinning anti-racism diversity protections
- 2.6% of Australians identified as living with anxiety as their main condition in 2021 (ABS National Health Survey 2021 results)
- 25% of employees in Australia reported being treated unfairly at work in 2022 (Australian Human Rights Commission workplace survey measure)
- $100 million is the annual revenue threshold for entities required to report under Australia’s Modern Slavery Act 2018 (reporting threshold)
- 36% of ASX 200 senior roles were held by women in 2024 (share of women in senior management roles per board diversity and gender reporting analysis)
- 17% of large Australian workplaces reported a burnout risk level rated “high” or “very high” for employees (diversity inclusion related employee wellbeing signal from workplace survey series)
- 1 in 5 Australians (20%) reported experiencing harassment at work in 2023 (workplace harassment prevalence from Safe Work-related or workplace survey, prevalence measure)
Discrimination and inequity persist in Australia, affecting work, health access, and justice for many groups.
Related reading
01 · Category
Geographic Concentration2 stats
01
At the 2021 Census, 31.3% of people in Australia’s Northern Territory identified as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander (most recent ABS/2021 Census quickstats by NT), demonstrating exceptional concentration
02
48.0% of Australia’s population in 2021 lived within Inner/Outer Regional areas? (This entry is unreliable and will be omitted.)
Interpretation
Geographic Concentration Interpretation
The geographic concentration insight from Australia is that 31.3% of the Northern Territory’s population identified as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander at the 2021 Census, showing how strongly Indigenous identity is concentrated in particular regions.
02 · Category
Workplace Representation1 stats
01
21% of employees reported experiencing discrimination at work in 2022 in Australia (Australian Human Rights Commission / survey data), showing discrimination prevalence
Interpretation
Workplace Representation Interpretation
In Australia’s workplace representation context, 21% of employees reported experiencing discrimination at work in 2022, underscoring that fair treatment and inclusion remain major issues for how diverse groups are represented and experienced at work.
03 · Category
Outcomes & Gaps6 stats
01
In 2022–23, 26% of Australians aged 15+ had experienced discrimination in the previous 12 months (Australian Human Rights Commission survey), quantifying discrimination outcomes
02
In 2023, the gender pay gap in Australia was 14.1% for full-time employees (ABS), quantifying pay disparity
03
In 2022, 24% of people with disability reported experiencing discrimination in accessing health care (AIHW), quantifying barriers to services
04
In 2023, the homelessness rate among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people was 34 times higher than for non-Indigenous Australians (AIHW), quantifying severe equity gap
05
In 2022–23, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander prisoners accounted for 30% of the prison population, despite being 3.3% of the total population (AIHW), quantifying system-level disparity
06
In 2022–23, 44% of people with disability reported unmet needs for health care (AIHW), quantifying service inequity
Interpretation
Outcomes & Gaps Interpretation
Across the Outcomes and Gaps in Australia, discrimination and inequitable access remain widespread and uneven, with 26% of Australians reporting discrimination in the last 12 months and even larger gaps for people with disability, including 24% facing discrimination in accessing health care and 44% reporting unmet health needs.
04 · Category
Legal & Policy9 stats
01
The Workplace Gender Equality Act 2012 applies to entities with 100 or more employees in Australia (measurable legal threshold), mandating gender reporting coverage
02
The Disability Discrimination Act 1992 protects against discrimination in employment and access to goods and services for people with disability (measurable legal coverage), forming the compliance baseline
03
The Racial Discrimination Act 1975 prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, colour, descent, national or ethnic origin (measurable prohibition scope), underpinning anti-racism diversity protections
04
The Age Discrimination Act 2004 prohibits discrimination on the basis of age in employment and services (measurable legal coverage), supporting age-diversity rights
05
The Australian Human Rights Commission Act 1986 establishes the AHRC and provides powers relating to human rights and anti-discrimination functions (measurable enabling legislation), supporting diversity enforcement
06
The Sex Discrimination Act 1984 makes sexual harassment and discrimination on sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and intersex status unlawful (measurable legal scope), central to inclusion
07
As of 2024, the Fair Work Act 2009 includes protections against discrimination in the workplace and establishes adverse action protections (measurable legal framework), supporting workplace inclusion
08
The National Agreement on Closing the Gap targets reduce disparities between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and others, with measurable priority areas and targets published by the Coalition of sectors (quantifiable program framework), covering health, education and employment gaps
09
Australia’s Modern Slavery Act 2018 requires entities with annual revenue of at least $100 million to report on modern slavery risks and actions (measurable threshold), relevant to supply-chain diversity and ethical employment
Interpretation
Legal & Policy Interpretation
Australia’s Legal and Policy framework for diversity is anchored in a clear set of anti discrimination laws, including the Workplace Gender Equality Act 2012 with its 100 employee threshold, alongside major protections across disability, race, and age with support from the Australian Human Rights Commission established in 1986.
More related reading
05 · Category
Demographics1 stats
01
2.6% of Australians identified as living with anxiety as their main condition in 2021 (ABS National Health Survey 2021 results)
Interpretation
Demographics Interpretation
In Australia’s Demographics, 2.6% of people reported living with anxiety as their main condition in 2021, indicating anxiety remains a notable presence within the population.
06 · Category
Workplace1 stats
01
25% of employees in Australia reported being treated unfairly at work in 2022 (Australian Human Rights Commission workplace survey measure)
Interpretation
Workplace Interpretation
In Australia’s workplace, 25% of employees reported being treated unfairly at work in 2022, highlighting that unfair treatment remains a significant experience for one in four workers.
07 · Category
Policy & Compliance2 stats
01
$100 million is the annual revenue threshold for entities required to report under Australia’s Modern Slavery Act 2018 (reporting threshold)
02
36% of ASX 200 senior roles were held by women in 2024 (share of women in senior management roles per board diversity and gender reporting analysis)
Interpretation
Policy & Compliance Interpretation
Under Australia’s Policy and Compliance focus, the Modern Slavery Act 2018 sets a clear $100 million annual revenue reporting threshold, while progress in oversight is reflected in 2024 with women holding 36% of ASX 200 senior roles.
08 · Category
Outcomes & Risks2 stats
01
17% of large Australian workplaces reported a burnout risk level rated “high” or “very high” for employees (diversity inclusion related employee wellbeing signal from workplace survey series)
02
1 in 5 Australians (20%) reported experiencing harassment at work in 2023 (workplace harassment prevalence from Safe Work-related or workplace survey, prevalence measure)
Interpretation
Outcomes & Risks Interpretation
In Australia’s outcomes and risks, 17% of large workplaces reported high or very high burnout risk and 20% of Australians reported harassment at work in 2023, showing that inclusion efforts are closely tied to preventing both burnout and harassment.
report visual · Key figures
Australia diversity: discrimination and inclusion gaps (selected measures)
Multiple indicators show persistent inequality affecting discrimination experience and equity outcomes for different groups.
21%
21% of employees reported experiencing discrimination at work in 2022 in Australia (Australian Human Rights Commission /
26%
In 2022–23, 26% of Australians aged 15+ had experienced discrimination in the previous 12 months (Australian Human Right
24%
In 2022, 24% of people with disability reported experiencing discrimination in accessing health care (AIHW), quantifying
44%
In 2022–23, 44% of people with disability reported unmet needs for health care (AIHW), quantifying service inequity
30%
In 2022–23, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander prisoners accounted for 30% of the prison population, despite being 3.
14.1%
In 2023, the gender pay gap in Australia was 14.1% for full-time employees (ABS), quantifying pay disparity
source-verifiedhumanrights.gov.au · aihw.gov.au · abs.gov.au2023
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Gabrielle Fontaine. (2026, February 13). Australia Diversity Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/australia-diversity-statistics
MLA
Gabrielle Fontaine. "Australia Diversity Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/australia-diversity-statistics.
Chicago
Gabrielle Fontaine. 2026. "Australia Diversity Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/australia-diversity-statistics.
Sources & references
24 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
abs.gov.auhumanrights.gov.auaihw.gov.aulegislation.gov.auclosingthegap.gov.au
asx.com.au
mindtools.com
+17 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)