Almost one in 10 Australians tried to get a suntan in the 12 months before they were surveyed, with 7% developing sunburn in the last week before the survey, a new report shows.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics data also reveals that while 15.2% of people aged 15 to 24 had recently been sunburned compared to just 2% of those aged 65 years and older, only 38% of Australians used a SPF30 or higher sunscreen.
Three in five people spent more than 15 minutes outdoors during peak UV times in the last week between late spring and summer 2023–24, and suntanning was highest among young females 15 to 24 years old, with one in four suntanning in the last 12 months, more than any other age group.
Australians who were more likely to attempt suntanning also included those who:
- would either ‘burn first then tan afterwards’ or ‘not burn at all, just tan’ after 30 minutes of sun exposure (13.1% and 11.7%) compared to 4.2% of those who would ‘just burn and not tan’
- were living in major cities (10.6%) compared to those living in outer regional and remote areas (4.1%)
- were born in Australia (11.2%) compared to those born overseas (5.7%)
- were living in areas of least disadvantage (13.4%) compared to those living in areas of most disadvantage (8.3%).
The ABS’s first published estimate of sun protection behaviour was funded by the Cancer Councils of Australia, with data collected via telephone survey between November 2023 and February 2024.
The sun protection behaviours that were collected as part of this survey included:
- using SPF30 or higher sunscreen
- wearing a broad brimmed hat or cap with a back flap
- staying in the shade
- wearing clothing or swimwear that covers three quarters of arms and/or legs
- wearing sunglasses.
Females were more likely to wear sunscreen on most days than males (48.8% compared to 27%), across every age group, while males were more likely to be sunburnt than females (7.9% compared to 6.0%). This was particularly true for those aged 25–34 years, where 12% of males experienced sunburn compared to 6.4% of females.
Between November 2023 and February 2024, Australians were less likely to use sunscreen on most days in the last month if they were:
- born in Australia (36.2% compared to 41.8% of those born overseas)
- living in outer regional and remote Australia (34.8% compared to 39.8% of those living in major cities)
- unemployed (32.6% compared to 41% of those who were employed)
- living in areas of most disadvantage (32.5% compared to 44.3% of those living in areas of least disadvantage).
As skin type and skin sensitivity to sun exposure can influence sun protection behaviours and associated health risks, the survey asked respondents how sensitive their skin was to burning and tanning.
One in four people aged 15 years and over in Australia reported they would ‘just burn and not tan’ after 30 minutes of sun exposure, and one in three people would ‘burn first then tan afterwards.’
Over half of people reported they would burn after 30 minutes of sun exposure, with people living in Tasmania (63.4%), SA (62.6%) and the ACT (61.5%) more likely to report burning after 30 minutes of sun exposure compared to all Australians.