New national data shows 4.5 million Australians living with neurological conditions

New national data shows around one in six Australians is living with a neurological condition, strengthening calls for coordinated national action on neurological health.

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) has released data showing an estimated 4.5 million Australians, or around one in six people, were living with a neurological condition in 2025.

The new figure highlights the scale of neurological conditions across Australia and their impact on individuals, families, communities and the health system.

Neurological Alliance Australia (NAA) says the findings reinforce the need for neurological health to become a greater national priority and has renewed its call for a National Action Plan for Neurological Conditions.

New data paints a clearer picture of neurological conditions in Australia

There are more than 600 different neurological conditions affecting the brain, spinal cord and nerves.

The latest AIHW report brings together national information on prevalence, hospitalisations, emergency department presentations, health-system expenditure, disease burden, mortality and aged care.

Migraine accounts for almost nine in every 10 Australians included in the latest prevalence estimate, with approximately 3.9 million people affected. Dementia was also the leading contributor to the burden of disease from neurological conditions in 2024.

NAA Chair and MS Australia CEO Rohan Greenland said the updated estimate highlights the scale of neurological conditions across Australia:

“There are 4.5 million Australians living with a neurological condition.”

Growing pressure across the health system

The AIHW data also highlights the significant demand neurological conditions place on Australia’s health system.

In 2023-24, neurological conditions were the principal diagnosis for around 365,000 hospitalisations and 132,000 emergency department presentations. The report estimates neurological conditions accounted for $6.6 billion in health-system costs and 8.4% of Australia’s total disease burden.

Access to care also differs across Australia. The AIHW found people living in remote and very remote areas had the highest age-standardised rates of emergency department presentations for neurological conditions, while lower socioeconomic areas also recorded higher rates of emergency presentations.

These findings sit alongside the 2026 NAA Neuro Survey of 3,805 Australians, which found 51% of respondents had difficulty accessing neurological care, 30% waited more than four years for a diagnosis and 48% had delayed or skipped healthcare because of cost.

Calling for coordinated national action

NAA is calling for the Australian Government to work with state and territory governments and the neurological community to develop a funded, accountable National Action Plan for Neurological Conditions.

The proposed plan would focus on earlier diagnosis and access to appropriate care, better-connected services and support, strengthening the neurological workforce, greater research and improved access to care regardless of where people live.

As Mr Greenland said:

“The Australian Government must now lead the development of a National Action Plan.”

NAA has also launched Fair Go for Neuro: Action Plan Now, inviting Australians to sign an open letter calling on governments to develop a National Action Plan for Neurological Conditions.

Supporting documents

For more information about the latest national data and the call for coordinated action, read the supporting documents below.