Australians who hold a bachelor's degree or higher are less likely to be killed by heart disease, diabetes or chronic kidney disease than those who don't.
The three common conditions are also more likely to be experienced by the most disadvantaged Australians and cause their deaths, according to a new report.
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare report, published on Thursday, found people's education level, socio-economic status and housing situation have a significant bearing on their disease rates.
Women living in the lowest socio-economic areas are more than twice as likely to have type 2 diabetes than those in the wealthiest areas, analysis of the latest data from 2016 shows.
Men are also 1.7 times more likely to have type 2 diabetes if they live in the lowest socio-economic areas, compared to the highest.
The disparity is also true of heart disease, with men in the lowest socio-economic areas 1.52 times more likely to die from the condition, while women are 1.33 times more likely.
That gap is actually growing, as deaths from heart disease are falling more quickly among people in the highest socio-economic areas.
Education also has an impact, with both men and women aged 25-to-74 with a secondary education or lower more than twice as likely to die by heart disease than those with a bachelor's degree or higher in 2011/12.
Housing is another factor, with women living in rented houses 1.5 times as likely to die from chronic kidney disease than those in house they owned.
Men in rented houses were 1.4 times as likely to be killed by heart disease.
"Australians as a whole enjoy good health, but good health is not equally shared by all," the report states.
"Some population groups have higher disease rates, and these higher rates are often associated with earlier disease onset, greater severity and a need for more complex management."
There are a range of ways that someone's socio-economic group can impact on their health, including by its impact on their mental health, and behaviours such as smoking and poor diet.
AIHW spokeswoman Lynelle Moon says the report's insights can help the nation's policymakers better assist those who are more disadvantaged.
"Governments at all levels can develop stronger, evidence-based policies and programs aimed at preventing and managing these diseases, leading to better health outcomes across our community," she said.
