Statistics
Spinal cord injury statistics in Australia
Summary of SCI Statistics
The Spinal Cord Injury, Australia series produced by the Australian Institute of Heath and Welfare (AIHW) presents national statistics on spinal cord injury (SCI) using data from case registrations to the Australian Spinal Cord Injury Register (ASCIR).
This is a summary of key statistics from the 2016-2017 report*. See the link below to access the full report.
During 2016-17, 374 new cases of SCI were reported to the ASCIR with 147 of these resulting from non-traumatic causes such as vascular disorders, infectious conditions, spinal canal stenosis, disc herniation, myelopathy and cancer.
The total number of new cases incurring SCI from traumatic causes, and over the age of 15, was 227.
Main causes of traumatic injury
Demographics
80% of the cases incurring SCI from traumatic causes were male. The largest number of cases reported in 2016-17 were aged 45-54 (40 cases or 18%). Cases aged 15-24 and 25-34 were the next most numerous, with 39 cases reported for each of these age groups.
Level of Injury
*Citation: AIHW: Tovell, A 2020. Spinal cord injury, Australia 2016–17, Injury research and statistics series, no. 129, Cat. No. INJCAT 209. Canberra: AIHW.
Click here for a full copy of the report and to access previous years.
NB: As at February 2020 these are the most up to date statistics for spinal cord injury in Australia.
Statistics on how many people in Australia have an SCI vary
Approximately 15,000+ Australians live with a spinal cord injury
What about the Cost of SCI?
Further Information
See SCIA Resource Library – SCI Statistics and SCIA Resource Library – Costs of Disability for more statistical publications.