Almost nine in 10 Australians are stressed and many say work is to blame, according to a national poll commissioned by Lifeline Australia.

The annual survey released today reveals 41 per cent of Australians are experiencing unhealthy levels of stress, and a whopping 87 per cent of the nation is experiencing some degree of stress.

Lifeline Australia chief executive officer Dawn O'Neil says while the overall figures are an improvement on last year's results, work-related stress is on the rise.

"What's really interesting about this year's results is that slightly less people are stressed than last year, when 91 per cent indicated some level of stress," she said.

"However, at the same time, work stress is on the up with 73 per cent of working Australians indicating they were stressed about work and 17 per cent saying they were very stressed about it."

It found, second from work, other major stress factors include finances, thoughts about the future, health and personal relationships.

Ms O'Neil says people were slightly less concerned with their finances this year, after the Federal Government's stimulus handouts and six interest rate drops since the previous poll.

But she says Aussies are still experiencing high levels of stress in their lives, which can can lead to a number of health issues.

"We know that small amounts of stress can sometimes help us, but each year, these results are showing us that we are no longer just feeling a little bit of stress," she said.

"Extreme levels of stress can lead to real and lasting mental and physical health problems, like anxiety, depression, back and neck pain and heart problems."

The poll also revealed that people who earn more tend to be more stressed, and that singles find it harder to cope than couples.