But the population may get a pass mark for its efforts due to higher than expected moderate activity and a daily step count just below the 10,000 mark.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics revealed the health trends in its first survey that asked participants to wear fitness-tracking gadgets to measure their exercise and sleep patterns.
The release comes almost a year after the World Health Organisation flagged plans for a similar study, amid concerns about declining physical activity and rising sedentary behaviour.
The bureau approached more than 10,000 people to participate in the National Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey, and more than 4100 people over the age of five volunteered to wear fitness-tracking devices to monitor sleep and activity.
Researchers collected data from the devices over seven days during 2023 and bureau health statistics head Matthew Montgomery said it revealed low rates of vigorous exercise, such as running.
"This is the first ABS report on Australians' physical activity and sleep using wrist-worn devices that record movement," he said.
"It showed the adults did four minutes a day of vigorous physical activity, and one hour and 45 minutes a day of moderate physical activity on average in 2023."
Adults were lightly active for two hours and 37 minutes a day, the study found, and completed 9065 steps on average.
Those living with dependent children, who were employed, or who had a healthy waist measurement were more active than others.
The fitness tracker data showed children were more physically active than grown-ups, completing an average of 10,799 steps, nine minutes of vigorous activity, 54 minutes of moderate activity, and three hours and 28 minutes of light activity each day.
Younger children aged between five and 11 were the most active, and recorded more steps on weekdays than on the weekend.
Australians' modest rates of vigorous exercise were not surprising, University of Southern Queensland physical activity and health professor Stuart Biddle said, as many struggled to commit to strenuous activity.
But the survey showed Australians were engaging in healthy amounts of moderate exercise, he said, and studies showed 7000 steps a day could deliver benefits.
"These results, apart from the vigorous exercise one, I would say are quite encouraging," he told AAP.
"We're trying to get people up to at least 150 minutes of at least moderate physical activity across the week – some brisk walking, playing some games – but more is better."
The survey also found Australian adults slept for an average of seven hours and 36 minutes each night, while children recorded eight hours and 31 minutes.
27°C