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Incontinence is not just a health issue – it’s a reflection of systemic gaps in care and support. The 2024 Deloitte Access Economics report, commissioned by Continence Health Australia, shows the scale of these challenges: in 2023, incontinence contributed to a staggering $100.4 billion. Behind this figure are barriers like delayed diagnosis, limited culturally safe services, stigma and rigid workplace structures that make it harder for people to live well.
Every person deserves dignity and access to care that works. When healthcare is culturally safe and timely, when workplaces adapt with flexibility, and when stigma is replaced with understanding, people thrive. Communities become stronger and wellbeing improves.
Continence Health Australia is calling on healthcare providers, policymakers and employers to lead this change. Together, we can build systems that empower people, reduce inequities and create environments where living well with incontinence is not the exception but the norm.
Incontinence is not just a personal health issue – it’s a national health priority.
About the research
This 2024 report, commissioned from Deloitte by Continence Health Australia (then the Continence Foundation of Australia), provides modelling data on:
– the burden of incontinence in the adult population of
Australia
– the associated financial costs and consequences.
Deloitte surveyed people with incontinence to supplement the limited existing sources of information with direct reports of the impacts of incontinence on mental health, use of healthcare services, employment, care needs, and
the associated economic costs.
Highlights from the report
Prevalence of incontinence in Australia (2023)
- 7.3 million Australians aged 15+ experienced incontinence (bladder or bowel leakage).
- 4.8 million women (almost 4 in 10 women)
- 2.4 million men (almost 2 in 10 men)
- 7 in 10 people with incontinence are under 65 years old.
- 7 in 10 residential aged care residents experience incontinence.
- It is projected that 8.6 million people (34.1% of the population) will experience incontinence by 2032.
Economic cost of incontinence (2023)
- Total cost: $100.4 billion
- Financial costs: $66.6 billion
- Lost wellbeing: $33.8 billion
- Cost per person with incontinence: $9,152
By 2032, up to 8.6 million people in Australia aged 15 years and older will be living with incontinence.
Breakdown of financial costs:
| Category | Cost (AUD) | % of Total financial cost |
| Productivity losses | $53.9 billion | 81% |
| Health system costs | $2.6 billion | 4% |
| Efficiency losses | $8.8 billion | 13% |
| Other financial costs | $1.2 billion | 2% |
Health system costs
- Hospital inpatient: $284.2 million
- Non-admitted outpatient: $168.9 million
- Other health services (GPs, allied health, mental health): $1.45 billion
- Pharmaceuticals: $733.8 million
Healthcare ulilisation
- 66% of people with incontinence saw a GP (average of 5 visits each year)
- 40%+ saw allied health professionals (average of 3 visits each year)
- 13% saw mental health professionals (average of 5 visits each year)
Productivity impacts
- Presenteeism: $22.6 billion (41.9%)
- Absenteeism: $14.4 billion (26.6%)
- Reduced employment: $11.4 billion (21.2%)
- Informal care: $5.6 billion (10.3%)
Aged and home care costs
- Residential aged care: $435.4 million
- Formal home care: $70.3 million
Aids and equipment
- Total cost: $705.8 million
- 99% of people with incontinence use pads, liners, or pull-ups.
- Government subsidies (eg CAPS): $63.7 million
- Out-of-pocket costs: $630.3 million
Wellbeing impact
- Loss of wellbeing (YLDs): 145,933 years
- Monetary value of lost wellbeing: $33.8 billion
- Women bear 76.9% of the wellbeing cost.
Key challenges and gaps
- Incontinence is under-reported and under-researched.
- Limited data on priority groups: First Nations peoples, multicultural communities, LGBTQIA+ individuals, children.
- Service access gaps, especially in rural and remote areas.
- Workforce shortages in continence care and lack of training in general health and aged care sectors.
Source: Deloitte Access Economics 2024. The economic impact of incontinence in Australia.
Have questions?
Call the National Continence Helpline on 1800 33 00 66 between 8am and 8pm (Vic time) Monday to Friday to talk to a nurse continence specialist for free and confidential information, advice and support. They also provide a wide range of continence-related resources and referrals to local services.