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Costly Reactions: The economic and social cost of allergic disease in Australia

27 August 2025

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National Allergy Council

One in three Australians now live with allergic disease, costing $18.9b in financial losses and $44.6b in non-financial impacts each year, according to a new Deloitte Access Economics report, “Costly Reactions: The economic and social cost of allergic disease in Australia.”

This new Deloitte Access Economics report was developed with the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA) and the National Allergy Council.

The report has identified that more than 8 million Australians now live with allergic disease, leading to mounting costs and unprecedented demand for allergy services.

The report also revealed that the annual financial burden has reached $18.9 billion, up from $7.8 billion in financial burden reported in 2007.  

Allergic disease is one of Australia’s fastest growing chronic conditions with hay fever (~24%), food allergy (7%) and drug allergy (5%) among the most common, according to new research by the National Allergy Centre of Excellence (NACE), which helped underpin The Costly Reactions report.

Key findings of the report include:

  • An estimated 8.2 million Australians (30%) live with allergic disease, up from 4.1 million (19.6%) reported in 2007
  • Many people – and households – manage at least two allergic conditions at the same time
  • The estimated annual financial cost of allergic disease is $18.9 billion, and a further $44.6 billion in wellbeing losses
  • There is an average financial cost of $2,318 and a further $5,470 of non-financial costs per person living with allergic disease
  • Living with the risk of anaphylaxis has a significant impact on health and wellbeing of both the individuals and their families due to anxiety, isolation, and poor mental health
  • 9% of those affected are of working age, with 80% of financial costs linked to lost productivity
  • Food allergy peaks in childhood, hay fever in teens and young adults, and drug allergy in older adults
  • Ongoing investment in the NAC and NACE programs is essential to reduce the burden of allergic disease for millions of Australians.

This report has been developed to help inform the National Allergy Council Shared Care for Allergy Program, funded by the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing.

Infographic

the economic and social cost of allergic disease infographic image

View the infographic.

Full report

the economic and social cost of allergic disease report image

View the full report.

How to cite the full report:

Deloitte, Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA), National Allergy Council. Access Economics report, Costly Reactions: The economic and social cost of allergic disease in Australia (2025) https://www.allergy.org.au/ascia-reports-economic.