Most Australians may be unaware that dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, has overtaken ischaemic heart diseases as the nation’s leading cause of death, according to recent data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. They reported that over 17,500 deaths were attributed to dementia in 2024, representing a 39 per cent increase over the last decade. The shift reflects Australia’s ageing population, as individuals are now more likely to live to ages where they face higher dementia risk. Notably, women comprise 62.4 per cent of dementia deaths, with the condition serving as their leading cause of death since 2016. This demographic trend underscores the growing impact of age-related diseases on Australian mortality statistics.
Key Takeaways:
- Dementia is now Australia’s leading cause of death, accounting for 9.4% of total deaths in 2024 (over 17,500 deaths), surpassing ischaemic heart disease for the first time
- Dementia deaths have increased by 39% over the last decade, driven by Australia’s ageing population, with 68.2% of all deaths now occurring in people over 75 years old
- Women are disproportionately affected by dementia, representing 62.4% of dementia-related deaths, and it has been the leading cause of death for women since 2016
- Ischaemic heart disease remains the leading cause of death for men (10,153 deaths in 2024) and for those living in regional and remote areas, though mortality rates have dropped nearly 90% since peaking in 1968
- Suicide continues as the leading cause of premature death with 3,307 deaths in 2024 (median age 46 years), while drug-induced and alcohol-induced deaths both increased from 2023 to 2024
Overview of Mortality Statistics
The 2024 mortality data reveals significant shifts in Australia’s health landscape, with over two-thirds (68.2 per cent) of all deaths occurring in people aged over 75 years. This demographic trend has intensified over the past two decades, rising from 63.3 per cent twenty years ago to 66.1 per cent a decade ago. Lauren Moran, ABS head of mortality statistics, emphasized that people are now more likely to live to an age where they face higher risks of developing age-related conditions, particularly dementia. The statistics demonstrate how Australia’s ageing population directly influences mortality patterns, with chronic and degenerative diseases becoming increasingly prominent causes of death.
Gender differences remain strikingly evident in mortality data, particularly regarding dementia-related deaths. Women account for 62.4 per cent of people who died from dementia, largely attributed to their longer life expectancies compared to men. Conversely, men continue to experience higher mortality rates from coronary heart disease, with 10,153 male deaths recorded in 2024. Geographic variations also play a significant role, as coronary heart disease remains the leading cause of death for people living in outer regional, remote, and very remote Australia, highlighting persistent health disparities between metropolitan and rural populations.
Leading Causes of Death in 2024
Dementia’s position as the nation’s leading cause of death represents a historic shift in Australia’s mortality landscape. The condition accounted for 9.4 per cent of total deaths in 2024, comprising over 17,500 deaths, finally overtaking ischaemic heart diseases which fell to 8.7 per cent. This marks the culmination of a narrowing gap that had been closing for years, with dementia accounting for 9.1 per cent in 2023 while heart disease stood at 9.3 per cent. The transition reflects both improved cardiovascular health outcomes and the increasing prevalence of dementia in an ageing population.
Chronic lower respiratory diseases emerged as the third leading cause of death in 2024, causing just over 9,000 deaths. These diseases, which include emphysema and bronchitis, returned to pre-pandemic levels after experiencing record lows during the COVID-19 pandemic’s early years. Respiratory disease deaths, excluding COVID-19, have rebounded significantly, with influenza alone causing 827 deaths in 2024. Other notable causes include suicide, which remains the leading cause of premature death with 3,307 deaths at a median age of 46.0 years, and increasing drug-induced deaths at 1,947 cases, up from 1,766 in 2023.
| Cause of Death | 2024 Statistics |
| Dementia (including Alzheimer’s) | Over 17,500 deaths (9.4% of total deaths) |
| Ischaemic Heart Diseases | 8.7% of total deaths (10,153 male deaths) |
| Chronic Lower Respiratory Diseases | Just over 9,000 deaths |
| Suicide | 3,307 deaths (12.2 per 100,000 people) |
| Drug-Induced Deaths | 1,947 deaths |
| Alcohol-Induced Deaths | 1,765 deaths |
| Influenza | 827 deaths |
Comparison with Previous Years
The trajectory of dementia-related mortality demonstrates a sustained upward trend that has fundamentally altered Australia’s mortality profile.
Gender Disparities in Dementia Deaths
The stark reality of dementia mortality reveals a significant gender divide that reflects broader patterns in Australia’s ageing population. Women account for 62.4 per cent of all dementia-related deaths, a disparity directly linked to their longer life expectancies and increased likelihood of reaching ages where dementia risk substantially increases. This pattern has been consistent enough that dementia has overtaken heart disease as the nation’s primary cause of death, particularly among female populations where it has held the top position since 2016.
The gender gap in dementia mortality underscores how Australia’s demographic shifts disproportionately affect women in their later years. As the population continues to age, with 68.2 per cent of all deaths now occurring in people over 75 years, women face heightened vulnerability to dementia-related complications. This trend represents not just a statistical observation but a growing public health challenge that requires gender-specific approaches to dementia care, research, and support services tailored to the unique needs of female patients who comprise the majority of those affected.
Statistics on Female Mortality
Women’s dominance in dementia death statistics stems from their biological advantage in longevity, which paradoxically places them at greater risk for age-related cognitive decline. Dementia has been the leading cause of death for women since 2016, a distinction that predates its rise to the top position for the overall population by several years. The ABS data reveals that female life expectancy directly correlates with increased dementia vulnerability, as women survive to ages where neurodegenerative conditions become more prevalent and severe.
The female mortality pattern differs markedly from other leading causes of death, where gender distributions are more balanced or skewed toward males. While coronary heart disease remains the primary killer of men, women face a fundamentally different end-of-life health landscape dominated by cognitive decline. This gender-specific mortality pattern has significant implications for healthcare planning, aged care resources, and family support systems, as female dementia patients often require extended periods of specialized care before death.
Impact on Male Mortality
Male mortality patterns present a contrasting picture, with coronary heart disease remaining the leading cause of death for men, causing 10,153 deaths in 2024. While men represent approximately 37.6 per cent of dementia deaths, they face different primary health threats throughout their lifespan. The cardiovascular disease burden on male populations reflects decades of epidemiological trends, though mortality rates from coronary heart disease have dropped by nearly 90 per cent since peaking in 1968, demonstrating significant progress in prevention and treatment.
The lower proportion of male dementia deaths does not indicate immunity from the condition but rather reflects shorter average lifespans that reduce the likelihood of men surviving to ages where dementia becomes most prevalent. Men who do develop dementia often experience the disease differently, with some research suggesting variations in symptom presentation and disease progression compared to their female counterparts. This gender difference in dementia impact necessitates consideration of how male patients access diagnosis and care services, particularly given that men may be less likely to seek early medical intervention for cognitive symptoms.
Geographic factors further complicate the male mortality picture, as coronary heart disease remains the leading cause of death for people living in outer regional, remote, and very remote Australia, areas where male populations face additional barriers to healthcare access. Men in these regions contend with both traditional cardiovascular risks and limited availability of specialized dementia care services, creating compounded health challenges that differ substantially from urban male populations where diverse medical resources are more readily available.
Age and Dementia
Australia’s shifting mortality landscape directly reflects the nation’s ageing demographic profile. Over two-thirds (68.2 per cent) of all deaths in 2024 occurred among people aged over 75 years, marking a significant increase from 66.1 per cent a decade earlier and 63.3 per cent twenty years ago. This demographic shift has fundamentally altered the disease patterns observed in mortality statistics, with age-related conditions like dementia becoming increasingly prevalent as the primary cause of death.
The correlation between increased longevity and dementia mortality reveals a complex public health challenge. As Lauren Moran, ABS head of mortality statistics, explained, people are now more likely to live to an age where they face a higher risk of developing dementia. This pattern is especially pronounced for women, who have longer life expectancies and represented 62.4 per cent of all dementia-related deaths in 2024. The data demonstrates that extended lifespans, while representing a public health success, have simultaneously elevated the population’s exposure to neurodegenerative conditions that typically manifest in advanced age.
Age Demographics of Mortality
The concentration of deaths among older Australians has intensified substantially over the past two decades. The proportion of deaths occurring in the over-75 age group has grown by nearly five percentage points since 2004, representing thousands of additional deaths within this demographic. This shift indicates that more Australians are surviving past the typical onset age for many chronic conditions, including dementia, which rarely develops before the seventh decade of life. The statistics reveal a healthcare system increasingly focused on managing age-related degenerative diseases rather than acute conditions that historically claimed lives at younger ages.
Gender disparities in dementia mortality align closely with broader life expectancy differences between men and women. Women’s longer average lifespans place them at disproportionate risk, with dementia serving as the leading cause of death for women since 2016. Men, conversely, continue to experience higher mortality rates from coronary heart disease, which caused 10,153 male deaths in 2024. These gender-specific patterns reflect both biological differences in disease susceptibility and the varying age distributions at which men and women typically die, with women more frequently reaching the advanced ages where dementia risk peaks.
Trends Over Decades
The trajectory of dementia-related mortality has followed a steady upward path over the past ten years. Deaths caused by dementia have risen by 39 per cent over the last decade, a rate of increase that significantly outpaces population growth and reflects both improved diagnosis and genuine increases in disease prevalence. The gap between dementia and ischaemic heart disease had been narrowing progressively, with dementia accounting for 9.1 per cent of total deaths compared to heart disease’s 9.3 per cent in 2023. By 2024, dementia had overtaken heart disease decisively, representing 9.4 per cent of deaths while ischaemic heart diseases fell to 8.7 per cent.
This reversal in leading causes represents a dramatic shift from historical mortality patterns. Coronary heart disease mortality rates have dropped by nearly 90 per cent since they peaked in 1968, reflecting decades of medical advances, improved treatments, and successful public health interventions targeting cardiovascular risk factors. The decline in heart disease deaths has been so substantial that it has effectively cleared the path for dementia to emerge as the nation’s primary cause of death, particularly as the population continues to age and more individuals survive to the advanced years where neurodegenerative diseases become most prevalent.
The sustained increase in dementia mortality over multiple decades suggests this trend will likely continue as Australia’s population ages further. Demographic projections indicate that the proportion of Australians aged over 75 will continue to grow, potentially accelerating the rise in dementia-related deaths even further. Unlike heart disease, where medical interventions and lifestyle modifications have proven highly effective at reducing mortality, dementia currently lacks comparable preventive strategies or curative treatments, making it a particularly challenging public health concern for an ageing nation.
Ischaemic Heart Disease vs. Dementia
The shift in Australia’s mortality landscape represents a fundamental transformation in public health patterns. For decades, ischaemic heart disease held the position as the nation’s deadliest condition, but dementia has now claimed this position in 2024, marking a historic turning point. This transition reflects both the success of cardiovascular disease prevention and treatment, as well as the growing challenges posed by an ageing population increasingly vulnerable to neurodegenerative conditions.
The gap between these two leading causes had been narrowing steadily over recent years, with the crossover point finally occurring between 2023 and 2024. While dementia accounted for 9.1 per cent of total deaths compared to heart disease’s 9.3 per cent in 2023, the following year saw dementia rise to 9.4 per cent while ischaemic heart diseases fell to 8.7 per cent. This represents more than just a statistical shift; it signals changing disease patterns that will shape healthcare priorities and resource allocation for decades to come.
Historical Context of Disease Rates
Mortality rates from coronary heart diseases have experienced a dramatic decline over the past half-century, with rates dropping by nearly 90 per cent since they peaked in 1968. This remarkable reduction stands as one of public health’s greatest achievements, driven by advances in medical treatment, improved emergency response systems, better surgical interventions, and widespread lifestyle modifications including reduced smoking rates and improved dietary habits. The sustained decrease in cardiovascular mortality has fundamentally altered the disease landscape that Australians face as they age.
Conversely, dementia-related deaths have followed an opposite trajectory, with numbers rising by 39 per cent over the last decade alone. This increase cannot be attributed solely to better diagnosis or reporting practices; rather, it reflects genuine shifts in population demographics and longevity. As Lauren Moran, ABS head of mortality statistics, explained, people are now more likely to live to an age where they face higher risks of developing dementia. The proportion of deaths occurring in people aged over 75 years has increased from 63.3 per cent twenty years ago to 68.2 per cent in 2024, creating a larger population vulnerable to age-related cognitive decline.
Current Statistics Comparison
2024 Mortality Data Comparison
| Dementia | Over 17,500 deaths (9.4% of total deaths) |
| Ischaemic Heart Disease | Approximately 16,200 deaths (8.7% of total deaths) |
| Leading cause for women | Dementia (since 2016) |
| Leading cause for men | Coronary heart disease (10,153 deaths) |
| Gender distribution – Dementia | 62.4% women, 37.6% men |
| Regional patterns – Heart Disease | Leading cause in outer regional, remote, and very remote Australia |
The current statistics reveal striking demographic and geographic patterns in how these diseases affect different population groups. Dementia has been the leading cause of death for women since 2016, with women representing 62.4 per cent of dementia-related deaths in 2024. This gender disparity relates directly to women’s longer life expectancies, which place them at greater risk of reaching ages where dementia prevalence increases substantially. Meanwhile, coronary heart disease maintains its position as the primary killer of men, causing 10,153 deaths in 2024, and remains the leading cause of death for Australians living in outer regional, remote, and very remote areas. These geographic variations suggest that access to
Other Leading Causes of Death
Beyond dementia and ischaemic heart disease, several other conditions contributed significantly to Australia’s mortality landscape in 2024. Coronary heart disease maintained its position as the leading cause of death for men, claiming 10,153 lives, despite mortality rates from this condition dropping by nearly 90 per cent since peaking in 1968. Geographic disparities remained evident, with coronary heart disease proving particularly lethal for people living in outer regional, remote, and very remote Australia, where it remained the primary cause of death.
The data also revealed that coronary heart disease ranked as the second leading cause of premature death across the population, surpassed only by suicide. This pattern underscored the complex interplay between chronic disease management, healthcare access, and demographic factors that continue to shape mortality outcomes across different regions and population groups throughout the nation.
Chronic Respiratory Diseases
Chronic lower respiratory diseases, encompassing conditions such as emphysema and bronchitis, emerged as the third leading cause of death in 2024, accounting for just over 9,000 deaths. This marked a significant shift from the pandemic years, when respiratory disease mortality reached record lows. According to Ms Moran, overall deaths caused by respiratory diseases (excluding COVID-19) had been unusually suppressed during the first few years of the pandemic, likely due to public health measures and behavioral changes that reduced transmission of respiratory pathogens.
The return to pre-pandemic mortality patterns became increasingly apparent throughout 2024, with respiratory disease deaths climbing back to levels recorded before 2020. Influenza specifically demonstrated this rebound, causing 827 deaths in 2024. This resurgence highlighted how temporary pandemic-era protections had given way to more typical disease transmission patterns, affecting particularly vulnerable populations including older adults and those with pre-existing respiratory conditions.
Drug and Alcohol-Induced Deaths
Both drug and alcohol-induced deaths increased in 2024, signaling concerning trends in substance-related mortality. Drug-induced deaths rose to 1,947, up from 1,766 in 2023, representing a substantial year-on-year increase. Alcohol-induced deaths similarly climbed to 1,765 from 1,700 during the same period. Ms Moran identified acute toxicity as the main cause of drug-induced deaths, with opioids and other depressants including benzodiazepines being the most common drug classes present in fatal cases.
Alcohol-related mortality followed a different pattern, with long-term complications of alcohol use, particularly liver cirrhosis, serving as the primary cause of death. The alcohol-induced death rate has steadily increased over the last five years, rising from 5.4 deaths per 100,000 people in 2020 to 5.9 in 2024. This upward trajectory suggested that chronic alcohol consumption continued to exact a growing toll on public health, despite various intervention efforts and awareness campaigns aimed at reducing harmful drinking behaviors.
The sustained increase in substance-related deaths reflected broader challenges in addressing addiction and substance use disorders across Australian communities. These figures represented not merely statistical entries but individuals whose lives were cut short by conditions that often remained preventable or treatable with appropriate intervention and support systems. The data underscored the ongoing need for comprehensive approaches to substance abuse prevention, harm reduction strategies, and accessible treatment services to reverse these troubling trends in the years ahead.
Suicide and Premature Death
While dementia claims the most lives overall, suicide stands as the leading cause of premature death in Australia, affecting individuals at a significantly younger age than other major causes. The data reveals a stark contrast in median age, with those who died by suicide having a median age of just 46.0 years. This positions suicide ahead of coronary heart disease as the primary cause of premature mortality, highlighting the substantial years of life lost to this preventable cause of death.
Beyond the individual tragedy, the broader implications of suicide as a leading cause of premature death extend to families, communities, and the healthcare system. The relatively young age of those affected means that suicide disproportionately impacts working-age Australians, resulting in significant social and economic consequences. Support services including Lifeline (13 11 14) and Beyond Blue (1300 224 636) remain available for those requiring assistance, reflecting the ongoing need for accessible mental health resources across the nation.
Statistics on Suicide Rates
The 2024 data recorded 3,307 people who died by suicide, translating to a rate of 12.2 deaths per 100,000 people across the Australian population. This figure represents a significant public health concern, particularly when compared to the age profile of other leading causes of death. The statistics underscore the persistent nature of suicide as a mortality factor affecting Australians in their prime years, with implications for workforce participation, family structures, and community wellbeing.
The rate of 12.2 deaths per 100,000 people places suicide among the most significant preventable causes of death in the country. Unlike age-related conditions such as dementia and ischaemic heart disease, which predominantly affect older Australians, suicide cuts across age groups but concentrates in middle age. This pattern distinguishes it from the broader mortality trends observed in Australia’s ageing population, where over two-thirds of deaths occur in people aged over 75 years.
Demographics of Affected Individuals
Men accounted for just over three-quarters of suicide deaths in 2024, revealing a substantial gender disparity in suicide mortality. This demographic pattern contrasts sharply with dementia deaths, where 62.4 per cent of those who died were women. The predominance of male suicide deaths represents a persistent trend in Australian mortality statistics, highlighting the need for targeted mental health interventions and support services tailored to men’s specific risk factors and help-seeking behaviours.
The gender gap in suicide deaths reflects broader patterns observed in mental health outcomes and help-seeking behaviour across the Australian population. While women have longer life expectancies and are more likely to die from age-related conditions like dementia, men face elevated risks of premature death from both suicide and coronary heart disease. The median age of 46.0 years for suicide deaths indicates that many of those affected are in their peak earning years, often with dependent children and significant family responsibilities, compounding the impact of each loss on the broader community.
The demographic profile of suicide deaths also intersects with other social determinants of health, including geographic location, socioeconomic status, and access to mental health services. The concentration of these deaths in middle-aged men suggests that traditional approaches to mental health support may not adequately reach this population, necessitating innovative strategies to improve early intervention and crisis support. The availability of services such as Lifeline and Beyond Blue represents an important safety net, yet the persistent rate of suicide deaths indicates ongoing challenges in prevention and early identification of those at risk.
Final Words
To wrap up, the Australian Bureau of Statistics data reveals a significant shift in the nation’s mortality landscape, with dementia now claiming the position as Australia’s leading cause of death in 2024. Lauren Moran, ABS head of mortality statistics, highlighted that dementia-related deaths have surged by 39 per cent over the past decade, reflecting the country’s ageing demographic where 68.2 per cent of deaths now occur in individuals aged over 75 years. This trend is particularly pronounced among women, who represent 62.4 per cent of dementia deaths due to their longer life expectancies, and for whom dementia has been the primary cause of death since 2016. The data underscores how increased longevity has brought with it a higher risk of developing age-related conditions such as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
While dementia has overtaken ischaemic heart disease as the nation’s leading killer, the statistics also reveal other important health trends. Coronary heart disease remains the primary cause of death for men and those living in regional and remote areas, though mortality rates from this condition have declined dramatically since peaking in 1968. Additionally, the data shows concerning increases in drug-induced and alcohol-induced deaths, rising to 1,947 and 1,765 respectively in 2024. Those affected by dementia or requiring support can contact the National Dementia Helpline on 1800 100 500, while individuals experiencing mental health challenges can reach out to Lifeline at 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue at 1300 224 636.
FAQ
Q: What is now Australia’s leading cause of death in 2024?
A: Dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, has become Australia’s leading cause of death in 2024, accounting for over 17,500 deaths. It has overtaken ischaemic heart diseases, which previously held the top position. Dementia now accounts for 9.4 per cent of total deaths in Australia, while ischaemic heart diseases account for 8.7 per cent.
Q: How much have dementia-related deaths increased over the past decade?
A: According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, deaths caused by dementia have risen by 39 per cent over the last decade. This significant increase is linked to Australia’s ageing population, as people are now more likely to live to an age where they have a higher risk of developing dementia. Over two-thirds (68.2 per cent) of deaths in 2024 were people aged over 75 years.
Q: Why does dementia affect women more than men in Australia?
A: Women are disproportionately affected by dementia deaths, with 62.4 per cent of people who died from dementia in 2024 being women. This is primarily because women have longer life expectancies than men, making them more likely to reach an age where dementia risk is higher. Dementia has been the leading cause of death for women since 2016, according to ABS data.
Q: What is the current status of heart disease as a cause of death in Australia?
A: Ischaemic heart disease remains the leading cause of death for men, causing 10,153 deaths in 2024, and is also the leading cause for people living in outer regional, remote, and very remote Australia. However, mortality rates due to coronary heart diseases have dropped by nearly 90 per cent since they peaked in 1968. It is now the second overall leading cause of death nationally, behind dementia.
Q: What are the trends for drug and alcohol-induced deaths in Australia?
A: Both drug and alcohol-induced deaths increased in 2024. Drug-induced deaths rose to 1,947 from 1,766 in 2023, with acute toxicity being the main cause and opioids and benzodiazepines being the most common drugs involved. Alcohol-induced deaths rose to 1,765 from 1,700, primarily caused by long-term complications such as liver cirrhosis. The alcohol-induced death rate has increased from 5.4 deaths per 100,000 people in 2020 to 5.9 in 2024.
