Do you snore? These sleep apnea statistics for Australia suggest that if you do, you might have sleep apnea: an estimated 2.5 million Australians are affected, 80% remain undiagnosed, and the economy bears a cost of $5.1 billion annually.
Sleep apnea statistics for Australia in 2024
While sleep apnea can occur without snoring, the two often go hand-in-hand. Sleep apnea is a potentially serious but often undiagnosed sleep disorder that occurs when a person’s breathing repeatedly starts and stops during the night. This interruption can last for seconds or even minutes, leaving sufferers feeling tired and unrefreshed in the morning.
An estimated one in five Australians snores regularly, and of those who snore, around 60% are likely to have sleep apnea. If you’re one of the many Australians affected, you’re far from alone.
Sleep apnea affects an estimated 2.5 million Australians, with 80% remaining undiagnosed.
The word “apnea” simply refers to a pause in breathing. During an episode the brain senses the interruption and briefly rouses the sleeper so breathing can restart. Those micro-awakenings are often too short to remember, which is one reason people can have the condition for years and still believe they sleep through the night. The tiredness shows up the next day instead.
Sleep apnea and snoring: 10 key facts for Australians
- An estimated one in ten Australians (2.5 million Aussies) has sleep apnea to some degree, with about 80% remaining undiagnosed.
- One in five Australians (5 million) occasionally snore, while 1.9 million (7%) are habitual snorers.
- Sleep apnea affects 13.3% of women and 25% of men in Australia.
- In 2018–2019, about 890,000 Aussies sought formal help for moderate-severe OSA, 24% women and 76% men.
- An estimated 58% of moderate-severe OSA is due to obesity.
- People with sleep apnea are six times more likely to have a stroke or heart disease, and four times more likely to die in a car accident.
- An estimated 60% of Australian snorers have sleep apnea.
- Aussie men are three times more likely to snore than women (38% vs 12%).
- Snoring is the fifth leading cause of divorce in Australia.
- The annual economic burden of undiagnosed sleep apnea is estimated at $5.1 billion per year.
Figures like these come from different surveys and modelling exercises, so they don’t always line up neatly. Read them as a broad picture of scale rather than exact counts. For wider context, our roundup of sleep statistics Australians need to know sits alongside this one.
Sleep apnea facts and figures for Australia
1. One in ten Australians have sleep apnea
An estimated 2.5 million Australians, roughly 10% of the population, suffer from mild to moderate sleep apnea. These figures are comparable to the number of Australians with diabetes. Approximately 80% of people with sleep apnea remain undiagnosed because the signs are not always apparent. Symptoms include snoring, gasping for air during sleep, and waking up feeling tired or unrefreshed.
A bed partner is often the first to notice. If someone has mentioned pauses, gasping or loud snoring, it’s worth taking seriously and raising with your GP rather than putting it down to a bad night.
2. Mild OSA accounts for 95% of all sleep apnea cases
Mild Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is the most common type, accounting for 95% of all Australian cases. Mild OSA is defined as fewer than 15 apneas (pauses in breathing) per hour on the AHI scale. Moderate OSA is 15–30 apneas per hour, and severe OSA is more than 30 per hour.
AHI stands for apnoea-hypopnoea index, the count of full pauses and partial reductions in breathing per hour of sleep. It’s normally measured during a sleep study, which is why a diagnosis can’t be made from snoring alone.
3. About 5% of Australians have moderate to severe OSA
An estimated 1.25 million Australians suffer from moderate to severe OSA. The actual figures are likely higher, as most OSA cases go undiagnosed.
4. Sleep apnea affects more men than women
Sleep apnea is two times more common in men than women, 25% of men versus 13% of women in Australia. This difference is thought to be due to higher obesity rates in men and anatomical differences in airway size. Women’s symptoms can look different, and our piece on whether women need more sleep than men touches on some of those differences in sleep needs.
5. Risk of OSA increases significantly with age
OSA affects 25% of males aged 30–40, 49% of males aged 40–69, and 62% of males above 70 or older. Age-related muscle changes and weight gain both contribute to increased risk.
6. 74% of Australians with Type II diabetes have sleep apnea
Type II diabetes is a major risk factor for OSA due to the shared risk factors of obesity and age. It is estimated that 74% of people with Type II diabetes also have sleep apnea, highlighting the critical overlap between these two conditions. Our look at diabetes and sleep apnea statistics goes into that overlap, and Diabetes Australia offers general information on the condition itself.
7. Obesity is a major risk factor for OSA
An estimated 58% of moderate-severe OSA is attributed to obesity. Excess fat deposits around the neck and chest can narrow the airway, causing the breathing interruptions characteristic of sleep apnea. For the weight side of the story, see these obesity statistics Australians should know.
8. OSA affects 2–3% of Australian children
About 20% of children snore regularly, and 2–3% have sleep apnea. The most common OSA symptom in children is loud snoring, which can cause daytime sleepiness, moodiness, and poor school performance. Regular loud snoring in a child is a reason to see a GP.
9. Sleep apnea costs Australians $2,450 per year
Australians with sleep apnea pay an average of $2,450 annually in diagnosis and treatment, including CPAP machines, doctor’s visits, sleep studies, and other treatments.
10. Sleep apnea costs the Australian economy $5.1 billion annually
The total economic burden includes $3.4 billion in lost productivity, $500 million in medical expenses, and $1.1 billion in deadweight losses. In 2019–20, the government spent $547 million on OSA-related healthcare services, 58% of all spending on sleep disorders.
11. CPAP is the most effective treatment
CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) is the most common and effective treatment for sleep apnea, estimated to be 80% effective. It involves wearing a mask over the nose and mouth during sleep, connected to a machine that provides a steady stream of air to keep the airway open.
Which treatment suits you is a decision for your doctor or sleep specialist. The Australasian Sleep Association publishes general information on sleep disorders and where to find specialist care.
Snoring statistics and facts for Australia
How many Australians snore?
An estimated 20% of Australians (1 in 5) occasionally snore, while 7% are habitual snorers. Snoring affects people of all ages but is more common in men and those who are overweight. Snoring happens when relaxed tissues in the throat vibrate as air moves past them, so anything that narrows or relaxes the airway tends to make it louder.
Men are three times more likely to snore than women
Four out of every ten Aussie men snore compared to one in ten women. The difference is attributed to anatomical differences and higher obesity rates in men.
The average snorer snores for 22 minutes per night
The average Australian snorer snores 2.65 times or for 22 minutes per night. Men snore for longer (24 minutes) than women (17 minutes).
Lifestyle factors that worsen snoring
- Sleep position: Back sleepers are more likely to snore as soft tissues collapse into the airway.
- Alcohol: Relaxes throat muscles, making snoring worse.
- Weight: Obese and overweight individuals have higher rates of snoring and OSA.
- Age: 1 in 3 men aged 30–40 snore; this rises to 1 in 2 for those aged 40–49.
Of these, sleep position and alcohol are the easiest to change. A common mistake is assuming that cutting back on one trigger will settle things for good; if the snoring comes with gasping, pauses or heavy daytime tiredness, it still needs checking.
The health risks of snoring
Aussie snorers are six times more likely to have a stroke or heart attack than non-snorers. Snoring can also be a sign of sleep apnea, a condition that dramatically increases cardiovascular risk. Snoring is the fifth leading cause of divorce in Australia; one in four couples reports snoring has caused relationship problems.
I’d argue the relationship cost is the most underrated part of this list. Separate bedrooms are a common workaround, but they treat the symptom and leave the cause unexamined.
Treatment options for snoring
Mandibular Advancement Devices (MADs) are oral appliances that keep the tongue in place or open the airway to prevent snoring. MADs are 80–95% effective. Average snoring volume is 40–60 decibels, similar to a humming refrigerator, though some snorers can reach 90–100 decibels.
If noise is part of the problem for the person sleeping beside a snorer, white noise for sleep may take the edge off, though it won’t address the cause.
What these numbers mean for your sleep
Sleep apnea and snoring statistics in Australia paint an alarming picture. With millions of Australians affected and billions lost in economic productivity, raising awareness is critical. If you think you or someone you know may be at risk of sleep apnea, seek medical attention promptly. Early diagnosis and treatment can dramatically improve quality of life and reduce serious health risks.
A sensible first step is a conversation with your GP, who can talk through symptoms and whether a sleep study is appropriate. Bring any observations from a partner, as they can be surprisingly useful.
Related articles
- Do Women Need More Sleep Than Men?
- Does White Noise Help You Sleep Better?
- Building a Bedtime Routine for Adults
For independent guidance on sleep and wellbeing, the Sleep Health Foundation is a good starting point.
