Lexi Webster
Despite the significant number of casualties from COVID-19, Australia's overall death rate per capita dropped in 2020. This was due to fewer deaths from car crashes, workplace accidents, and deadly flu infections as a result of lockdown and social distancing measures. However, there was a reported increase in deaths from other causes, such as suicide and alcohol-induced deaths, possibly due to the impact of isolation and economic strain on mental health. While Australia's life expectancy dropped for the first time in 30 years during the COVID-19 pandemic, it still has the third-highest life expectancy in the world as of 2022.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Overall death rate | Dropped |
| Suicide rate | Dropped |
| Median age at death for people who died by suicide | 43.5 |
| Car accident deaths | Reduced by 10% |
| COVID-19 deaths | 898 |
| Median age of those who died from COVID-19 | 86 |
| Deaths under 70 years of age | More likely to be male |
| Pre-existing conditions | Dementia, chronic cardiac conditions, hypertension, and diabetes |
| Workplace deaths | Fell by 12.5% |
| Driver fatalities | Decreased by 14% |
| Life expectancy | Dropped for the first time in 30 years |
| Alcohol-induced deaths | Increased by 8.3% |
| Fertility rate | Dropped to its lowest-ever figure (1.58) |
| Suicide rate among Indigenous people | High |
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What You'll Learn
Drop in road accidents
Road crashes are a leading cause of death in Australia. While there has been a general decline in road fatalities over the last decade, the number of road deaths has been steadily increasing over the last few years.
In 2022, there were 1,194 road crash deaths in Australia, an increase of 5.8% from 2021. The road accident rate that year was 4.54 per 100,000, ranked 18th out of 31 OECD nations. This rate had declined by 11.4% between 2013 and 2022, compared to a 20.8% decline in the OECD median rate.
In 2023, the total number of road fatalities in Australia rose to 1,266, the highest number since 2018. This was accompanied by an increase in risky driving behaviour in the post-pandemic period. For instance, the number of accidents involving unlicensed drivers has risen in recent years. Speeding also continues to be a major factor in road accidents, contributing to about a third of fatal crashes.
However, there have been some positive developments. For instance, in 2023, Tasmania recorded a 44.4% drop in road deaths compared to the previous year. Additionally, the number of fatal single-vehicle crashes decreased by 5.2% in the 12 months ending in March 2025.
Overall, while there have been some setbacks, significant progress has been made towards road safety in Australia in the long term. In the early 1990s, more than 2,000 Australians a year lost their lives in car accidents, while the 2023 death toll was significantly lower, at 1,266.
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Fewer workplace accidents
Australia's overall death rate per capita dropped in 2020, with fewer car crashes, workplace accidents, and deadly flu infections. Safe Work Australia figures show that workplace deaths fell by 12.5% in 2020, with 104 workers killed nationally compared to 117 at the same time in 2019. The previous year had also been a low-fatality year, with an average of 199 workplace deaths per year in the past decade.
The drop in workplace accidents and fatalities can be attributed to various factors, including improvements in workplace health and safety, changes in the nature of work, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. With more people working from home and a decrease in economic activity, the likelihood of experiencing a work-related injury decreased.
Despite the overall decrease in workplace fatalities, certain industries continue to experience a high number of incidents. According to Safe Work Australia, as of 10 October 2024, the transport, postal, and warehousing category recorded 31 workplace fatalities, making it the worst industry for workplace injuries and deaths in the country. The agriculture, forestry, and fishing sector also saw 28 fatalities in the same period, a slight decrease from the previous year's total of 29.
Vehicle incidents and being hit by moving objects remain the leading causes of worker fatalities, accounting for more than half of all deaths in 2023. Northern Territory recorded the highest fatality rate, with 3.6 fatalities per 100,000 workers, followed by Queensland and South Australia with 1.8 fatalities per 100,000 workers each.
While the number of workplace fatalities has decreased, the impact of work-related injuries, particularly mental health conditions, remains significant. Mental health conditions lead to substantially more time off work and higher compensation payments compared to physical injuries. The median time lost from mental health-related serious claims in 2021-22 was 37 working weeks, more than five times the median time lost across all serious claims.
Overall, the decrease in workplace accidents and fatalities in Australia contributes to the larger trend of declining death rates in the country.
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Reduced flu infections
Australia has experienced a decrease in overall death rates during the COVID-19 pandemic, with fewer deadly flu infections being a contributing factor. The COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, such as reduced international travel, social distancing, mask-wearing, and school closures, have played a significant role in curbing the spread of the influenza virus.
During the pandemic, Australia witnessed a record-low season for influenza in 2021, primarily attributed to the reduced international travel restrictions implemented during that time. The public health measures in place during the pandemic, including mask-wearing, social distancing, and working from home, also contributed to the decline in flu infections.
The Australian Immunisation Handbook mentions that during the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a decrease in the circulation of the influenza virus and a lower uptake of influenza vaccines compared to previous years. However, as international borders reopened and population movement increased, a resurgence of influenza activity was observed in 2022.
The reduction in flu infections has had a notable impact on overall death rates in Australia. Influenza-related diseases and infection complications are among the factors contributing to the decline in mortality rates. The decreased spread of the influenza virus during the pandemic has resulted in fewer severe cases and, consequently, a reduction in flu-related deaths.
As social interactions and international travel resume, public health authorities emphasize the importance of annual influenza vaccination, especially for vulnerable groups, to prevent a potential surge in influenza infections and associated complications.
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Suicide rates
Suicide is a prominent issue in Australia, with over 3,000 suicides occurring each year. In 2022, there were 3,249 suicides, equating to around 9 suicides per day. The suicide rate for men is significantly higher than for women, with men three times more likely to take their own lives. In 2019, the standardised suicide rate for men was 20.1 deaths per 100,000 people, while for women it was 6.3 deaths per 100,000. The median age at death for women who died by suicide was 44.4 years, while for men it was 43.5 years.
While suicide rates for both sexes have generally decreased since the mid-1990s, with an overall reduction of 23% between 1999 and 2009, certain groups are at a higher risk. Young males are more likely to die by suicide than females, and middle-aged and older men continue to have suicide rates 4-6 times higher than women. Additionally, youth from Indigenous, rural, or refugee backgrounds, as well as those in welfare, are at an increased risk of suicide. The rate of suicide among young First Nations people is three times that of young non-Indigenous Australians.
In 2022, suicide became the leading cause of death for Australian children, with 94 children dying by suicide, accounting for 18.5% of all child deaths. The suicide rate for children increased from 1.8 in 2022 to 2.4 in 2023 per 100,000 children, though it remains lower than the rates in 2019-2021.
The COVID-19 pandemic and associated lockdowns and social distancing measures may have had mixed effects on suicide rates in Australia. While isolation and economic strain may have negatively impacted mental health, potentially leading to an increase in suicides, the reduction in social interactions may have contributed to a decrease in overall deaths.
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COVID-19 deaths
In 2020, Australia experienced a decline in its overall death rate per capita, from 6.6 in 2011 and 6.7 in 2021 to 6.3. This decrease may be attributed to the flow-on effects of lockdowns and social distancing, which helped curb the spread of other viruses and reduced fatalities from car crashes, workplace accidents, and influenza infections. COVID-19 was the 38th leading cause of death in Australia in 2020, with 898 deaths. The median age of those who died from COVID-19 was 86, and slightly more than half were female.
While Australia's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including vaccinations, lockdowns, social distancing, and masks, contributed to a reduction in deaths from all causes during the pandemic, it also experienced a drop in life expectancy for the first time in 30 years. This drop in life expectancy was relatively insignificant compared to the number of COVID-19 deaths, and the overall impact of the pandemic on Australia's death rate is complex.
The COVID-19 pandemic also had indirect effects on Australia's death rates. For example, suicide rates among males were at their lowest since 2016, and car accident deaths decreased by 10% in 2020. However, alcohol-induced deaths increased by 8.3%increases in suicides due to the impact of isolation and economic strain on mental health.
Additionally, Australia's fertility rate dropped to its lowest-ever figure of 1.58 in 2020, though the reason for this decrease is not yet fully understood. The pandemic may have also contributed to dramatic increases in unemployment, rent, house prices, and inflation.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, despite the many Covid-19 deaths, Australia saw a distinct drop in the overall death rate per capita in 2020. This was attributed to fewer car crashes, workplace accidents, and deadly flu infections as a result of lockdown and social distancing measures.
Sources suggest that Australia's life expectancy dropped for the first time in 30 years during the Covid-19 pandemic. However, there were relatively fewer deaths from the flu, suicide, and road accidents.
Yes, the death rate in 2020 was 6.3 deaths per 1000 people, compared to 6.6 in 2011 and 6.7 in 2021. Since the 1980s, death rates in Australia have been dropping and life expectancy has been increasing.
