How does life expectancy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples compare to non-Indigenous Australians?

• A. Slightly higher
• B. Significantly lower for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
• C. Significantly higher
• D. About the same

Answer: (B)

Life expectancy is a summary measure of how long people can expect to live and is shaped by a range of social and health factors. For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, this measure is significantly lower than for non-Indigenous Australians. The difference reflects enduring health inequities driven by determinants such as socioeconomic disadvantage, remoteness, access to culturally safe health care, and higher rates of chronic disease and preventable conditions. While there have been improvements over time, the gap remains substantial across generations, so the most accurate statement is that life expectancy is significantly lower for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.