Revised figures show the number of Australians living with migraine is about 4 million, with experts saying it highlights how grossly under-reported the chronic disease has been.
The new figures are more than double the previous estimate due to a change in the way the chronic illness is recorded.
Advocates say the new statistics highlight the need for more urgent action and investment in neurological conditions.
Having lived with migraine since childhood, Michelle Irving is used to "hardcore" pain.
In hospital, Ms Irving was told she may have Parkinson's disease, though in reality, perimenopause had preceded a vertigo condition associated with migraine.
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare data estimates almost 15 per cent of the population, or 1 in 7 people, live with long-term migraine.
Previous estimates were based on people who reported living with migraine in surveys, whereas this update was based on global figures, with the AIHW assessing their credibility and applying them to the Australian population.
Migraine Australia chair Chloe Cefelli said the new figures were validating and gave her "hope".
Migraine is the most common neurological condition in Australia, according to the AIHW.
Women are 1.6 times more likely than men to live with migraine, and it is more prevalent in those aged between 25 and 55 years.
However Neurological Alliance Australia chair Rohan Greenland said they were not treated the same as other diseases in the country.
Ms Cefelli said she hoped the report would "remove barriers" to "make people well again".