Beginning in 2001, the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey has become a major resource in the social sciences for understanding the dynamics of the economic, social and subjective well-being of Australians. The health-related questions facilitate the examination of changes in self-reported health status, long-term disabilities, impairments and health conditions, behavioural risk factors (such as smoking, exercise, and diet), and use of health care services. In 2014, the HILDA Survey sample was matched to the National Death Index (NDI) so that details of the date and cause of death could be added to the data files. This offers researchers a valuable opportunity to study the changes in life circumstances leading up to death. It also helps us to more accurately identify the eligibility of sample members over the course of the panel, which will assist in the production of response rates and population weights.
This report details the matching process, the outcomes, and the variables available.