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Sun Safety Across Australia
Which regions are the most and least sun-safe?
With summer fast approaching, it’s not just temperatures that are rising. UV levels are increasing, along with the risk of sun damage to our skin. As health insurance comparison experts, iSelect sought to identify the areas in Australia that are the most vulnerable to the sun’s impact and which region is managing the risk most effectively. Our goal is to reveal the most sun-safe regions and where is leading the way in sun-safe behaviours across age groups and gender nationwide.
iSelect analysed data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) on sun safety behaviours to understand which parts of Australia are the most sun-safe and where people are putting themselves at risk. We also used data from the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) to assess the level of sun exposure and UV risk across different regions, allowing us to identify areas where Australians are most vulnerable to sun damage.
The regions with the most significant risk from the sun
To kick off the research, we investigated the regions with the most significant risk of sun damage, based on UV levels and the average sunshine hours. This helped us identify the areas facing the most challenging conditions, enabling us to create an overall environmental score.
As you’d expect, Australia’s northern regions face the most significant sun risk, with higher UV levels and longer sunshine hours. Greater Darwin had an average UV index of 11.85 year-round — the highest in the country, which is considered ‘extreme’ by the BoM, paired with the third highest sunshine hours, resulting in the highest environmental risk score of 95.3. This was followed by the Rest of Queensland and the Rest of Western Australia, scoring 76.6 and 76.0, respectively. The rest of WA ranked the highest for average sunshine hours, with 8.5. In fourth place was the Rest of South Australia, where the northern parts of the state lifted the region’s average UV index and sunshine hours to just above eight, driving up its overall risk, with an environmental score of 58.1.
Which regions are the most sun-safe?
Our research found the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) is leading the way in sun safety, with a score of 63.1 out of 100. More than three in five residents (61.8%) reported to using at least three types of sun protection, making them the most likely in the country to take preventative sun-safe steps. The ACT also topped the nation for sunscreen use (60.5%) and for applying SPF30 most days (49.2%). Despite ranking only ninth for environmental risk, with moderate to high UV levels and average sunshine hours, residents show a strong commitment to sun safety.
Greater Darwin came in second with a score of 61.5 out of 100, driven by residents’ strong awareness of extreme UV risk. Residents were far less likely to risk long exposure, tanning or sunburn, which was reflected in very high scores for both attitudes and outcomes (91.2) and exposure (100). Despite facing the highest environmental risk in the country, an impressive 98.2% of residents reported not having had a recent sunburn — the best result nationwide.
Greater Brisbane followed in third (61.3 out of 100), showing strong protective behaviours and high awareness of when to limit sun exposure. The city region had the highest percentage of people who actively stayed in the shade (63.5%) and wore sunglasses (72%). The region also only spends an average of two days per week out in the sun for over 15 minutes.
Ranked at the bottom of the index is Greater Hobart and the rest of Tasmania, recording the lowest sun safety scores. With lower UV risk, many locals may take a more relaxed approach to sun protection. However, data from the AIHW shows Tasmania has the highest mortality rates from melanoma and the second-highest incidence rate per 100,000 people — a reminder that even in cooler climates, a lack of sun safety could have deadly consequences.
Overall, the results show a clear link between environment and behaviour. In regions with high UV danger, people are more likely to take precaution and take sun safety seriously.
Which states are most sun safe?
At the state level, the ACT once again came out on top, with a sun safety score of 62 out of 100. Close behind were the Northern Territory and Queensland, ranking second and third. Both face some of the harshest UV conditions in the country — and it shows in their behaviours on how they protect themselves.
NT residents ranked highly for minimising their sun exposure, tanning and sunburn, which helped secure their second-place position. This caution appears to be paying off, with the Northern Territory recording the lowest rates of melanoma incidence and mortality per 100,000 people in the country.
Queenslanders took a more balanced approach, ranking in the top three across all major categories, including protective behaviours (2nd), attitudes & outcomes (3rd) and exposure (2nd). Queensland saw the highest percentage of people seeking shade (62%), wearing sunglasses (69.9%) and hats (61.1%).
The regions that use the most sun protection
The ACT again ranks as the top region for protective behaviours, with the highest rates of people using three or more sun protection measures (61.8%), applying SPF30 or higher in the past week (60.5%), wearing clothing that covers their legs (56%) and using SPF30 sunscreen on most days (49.2%). Residents also scored highly for staying in the shade (59.8%).
At the other end of the spectrum, Greater Hobart was the least sun-safe region, while Greater Sydney ranked second lowest for sun protection. Fewer than half of Sydneysiders use three or more protective measures, less than two in five apply SPF30 on most days despite an average UV index above seven, and only 41.7% wear broad-brimmed hats or caps. Meanwhile, the rest of NSW ranks fourth for sun protection, suggesting Sydneysiders may be less concerned with protecting their skin and more focused on tanning. Surprisingly, Greater Darwin ranks third to last, which could be explained by locals prioritising sun avoidance and spending more time indoors rather than relying on protective measures.
The regions that tan and burn the most
Greater Hobart recorded one of the highest rates of people attempting to suntan, which was reflected in a large proportion that also experienced sunburn. Tasmania as a whole performed poorly in this category, ranking last among all states, with both the capital and regional areas showing high percentages of residents who had attempted to tan in the past 12 months and had been sunburnt in the past week.
Greater Sydney also had a high proportion of residents who had attempted to suntan, with over one in ten (11.3%) reporting this behaviour, while around half of those that attempted to tan (5.6%) had been sunburnt in the past week. After the rest of Tasmania, the rest of Western Australia saw the next highest rate of sunburn (11.1%) despite only 7.3% actively trying to tan, likely due to lower use of SPF30+ (45.1%) and a high proportion of people spending more than 15 minutes outdoors during peak UV (73.2%).
The regions with the highest exposure to the sun
On average, residents of greater capital cities were less exposed to the sun, with three in five (59.5%) spending more than 15 minutes outdoors during peak UV times compared to 64.3% in regional areas. They were also outside less frequently overall, averaging 2.1 days per week in the sun for more than 15 minutes, versus 2.5 days in regional Australia. This difference may reflect lifestyle factors, with regional residents more likely to work in outdoor jobs such as farming, some trades or spend more time outside as part of day-to-day living.
Interestingly, the ACT ranks fourth for time spent outdoors, despite being the most sun-safe region overall. This may be reflective of why residents are so diligent with sun protection.
Sun safety by gender
Women tend to be more sun-safe than men, ranking higher for their use of SPF30, clothing protection and less time spent outdoors during peak UV hours. However, women were more likely to attempt tanning. At the same time men were more likely to get sunburnt. One of the most significant differences was sunscreen use, with almost half (49.1%) of women reporting wearing SPF30 most days, compared to just over a quarter (27.1%) of men.
Sun safety by age group
When it comes to sun safety, older Australians are leading the way. The over-65’s age group ranked highest overall with a score of 67.8 out of 100, where they ranked first for both attitudes and outcomes, as well as exposure. The 55–64-year-old age group (score of 67.3), followed closely behind, demonstrating strong awareness and protective habits. While 45–54-year-olds (67.2) was ranked third scoring highest in protective behaviours including sunscreen use, hat-wearing and shade-seeking. Interestingly, 25–34-year-olds broke the pattern, taking over the 35–44-year-old group, driven by better exposure habits and more consistent protection. This could be because older millennials grew up during a time when tanning was trendy, while younger millennials experienced a shift away from this trend.
At the other end of the spectrum, 15–24-year-olds exhibited the riskiest sun behaviours, with higher rates of sunburn, tanning, and prolonged sun exposure, making them the least sun-safe group in Australia. One in five Gen Zs have attempted to sun tan, and one in six had been sunburnt in the past week, which is more than double the national average. This is deeply concerning for their health and is likely due to lack of education and potentially influenced by the “tan lines” trend that spread across social media last year.
“The research shows those aged 15–24-year-old are the least sun-safe age group in Australia, with higher rates of sunburn and tanning than any other age group. This is concerning because repeated sun damage can increase the risk of severe skin conditions later in life.
“To avoid sun damage altogether, there are simple steps everyone can take to protect themselves. Australians should be wearing SPF30+ sunscreen everyday. It’s also important to seek shade during peak UV hours and cover up with protective clothing when out in the sun. With Australia’s average UV above 3, Aussies should regularly check their skin for any changes and have it examined by a professional at least once a year.”
Private health insurance can play an important role, as it provides timely access to specialists and cost savings for private treatments, helping to catch issues linked to sun damage early and manage them effectively.
Andres Gutierrez
General Manager – Health at iSelect
About the data
iSelect has undertaken research using the latest government sources to identify the regions in Australia that are the most sun safe. Using a combination of research from the Australian Bureau of Statistics on sun safety behaviours, along with historical environmental data from the Bureau of Meteorology, we assessed cities, regions and states that are the most sun safe in the country.
We’ve achieved this by creating a sun safety score that aggregates the following relevant factors, normalises their values and assigns a proportional weight to each of the 12 factors based on their impact on sun safety, ultimately producing our final index score. These scores are assigned so that we can compare and contrast Greater Capital City Statistical Areas (GCCSA) and States.
Environmental Risk
| Category | Metric | Rationale | Weight | |
| UV Index | Average UV Index under clear skies during peak UV time (annually) | Environmental factor adds contextual relevance | 67% | |
| Sunshine Hours | Average sunshine hours per day (annually) | Duration of exposure opportunity | 33% | |
| Environmental Risk Total | 100% | |||
Sun Safety
| Category | Metric | Rationale | Weight | |
| Protection Measures | % of people who used at least 3 sun protection measures when outdoors during peak UV times in the past week | Captures breadth/consistency of protection | 18% | |
| Protection Types | % of people who used each type (5 types) of sun protection measure when outdoors during peak UV times in the past week | Accounts for composition of specific protection behaviours | 29% | |
| → Stayed in the shade | Reduces overall UV exposure for body and face; especially effective at peak UV times. | 8% | ||
| → Used SPF30+ sunscreen | High practical effectiveness for exposed skin when used correctly and frequently; common habit to track. | 8% | ||
| → Clothing or swimwear that covered three-quarters or more of arms | Covers large body areas (torso/arms) — strong protection for those parts. | 4% | ||
| → Clothing or swimwear that covered three-quarters or more of legs | Covers large body areas (legs) — strong protection for those parts. | 4% | ||
| → Broad-brimmed hat or cap with back flap | Protects face, neck and ears — important for high-risk sites. | 4% | ||
| → Sunglasses | Important for eye protection and behaviour signalling | 3% | ||
| Sunscreen Habit | % of people who used SPF30+ or higher on most days in the past month | Habitual and strong predictor of reduced sunburn risk. | 12% | |
| Tanning | % of people who didn’t attempt to get a suntan in the last 12 months | Intentional risk-seeking behaviour | 12% | |
| Sunburn | % of people who didn’t experience sunburn in the past week | Outcome indicator | 6% | |
| Sun Exposure* | % of people who went outdoors for longer than 15 minutes during peak UV in the past week | Exposure magnitude | 14% | |
| Sun Exposure Frequency* | Avg number of days/week spent outdoors for longer than 15 minutes during peak UV in the past week | Exposure frequency | 9% | |
| Sun Safety Total | 100% | |||
* Metric has been given an inverse scale, with higher values signalling greater risk and thus given lower scores
Some values in the index are based on survey estimates with higher sampling variability (relative standard error [RSE] between 25 and 50%). These values are included to provide a complete picture of behaviours but should be interpreted with caution. Due to multiple metrics within the study exceeding an RSE of 25% for the “Rest of NT” region, we have omitted this from the index due to reliability issues.
Sun protection behaviours within this research were sourced from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Sun protection behaviours, Nov 23 – Feb 24 survey, accessed via TableBuilder in Aug 2025. This survey included people across Australia aged 15 years and over who were usual residents of private dwellings. Please note that data provided via TableBuilder contains cells and continuous variables that have been randomly adjusted to avoid the release of confidential data. This means that discrepancies may occur between the sums of the component items and the totals. Proportions from survey results were calculated based on the total responses, excluding those that answered “Don’t Know” or “Not Applicable”.
Environmental factors were sourced from data obtained from the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM). We used BoM maps that show the average daily sunshine hours and average annual UV Index across Australia. These values are calculated based on long-term data (1900–2003 for sunshine, 1979–2007 for UV) using clear-sky measurements with the Campbell-Stokes recorder and UV mapping at peak UV times.
We combined these maps with ABS Greater Capital City Statistical Area and State boundaries to calculate area-weighted averages for each region. Results provide a broad comparison of sunlight exposure and UV risk across Australia, though areas with fewer grid cells (like Hobart and Canberra) may have less precise figures.
While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, some of the estimates, particularly those with higher RSE, should be interpreted with caution. Results are intended for general information and awareness-raising purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for official health advice. For personal guidance on sun protection, please refer to the recommendations of Cancer Council Australia and other qualified health authorities.