About 3.9 million Australians may be living with migraine, according to a revised estimate released by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.
AIHW's best current estimate puts migraine prevalence at 14.4 per cent, or roughly one in seven Australians in 2025. That is more than double an earlier estimate of about 1.7 million people based on self-reported survey data.
The updated calculation applies Global Burden of Disease modelling to Australia's population after AIHW compared several data sources. The agency says the available evidence supports a range of possible prevalence and that further research is needed to refine the estimate.
Almost two-thirds of Australians living with migraine may not have a formal diagnosis. Women were estimated to be 1.6 times as likely as men to live with the condition, and advocates are calling for greater recognition, research and workplace support.
Sources: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, updated 21 September 2026; ABC News, 21 September 2026.
Image disclosure: The featured image is an AI-generated educational illustration using a fictional person. It is not a photograph of a patient and does not represent a diagnosis.
