Gonorrhoea and syphilis rise by more than 50% in Australia with ‘concerning’ rise in cases in women

Australia’s rates of gonorrhoea and infectious syphilis have surged by over half in the past decade, according to newly released sexual health data, raising alarms among health experts. The figures—nearly 42,400 gonorrhoea cases and over 5,900 syphilis cases recorded in 2025—highlight a growing public health concern, particularly with rising infections among women. Indigenous Australians are also experiencing disproportionately high infection rates, deepening disparities in health outcomes. The data underscores the need for targeted interventions as sexually transmitted infections continue to climb across the country.

Newly collated data also shows Indigenous Australians experiencing disproportionally high rates of infectionGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastRates of reported gonorrhoea and infectious syphilis have increased by more than 50% across Australia over the past decade, with experts warning of concerning rises among women.Newly collated sexual health data from UNSW’s Kirby Institute shows 42,393 gonorrhoea notifications and 5,986 infectious syphilis notifications were recorded in 2025. The figures represent 10-year increases of 57% and 56%, respectively. Continue reading...