Mortality Rates: Australia's Minute-By-Minute Loss

how many people die per minute in australia

In 2023, there were 183,131 deaths registered in Australia, equating to a standardised death rate of 5.1 deaths per 1,000 people. This figure represents a decrease from 2022, when the death rate was 5.5. While the overall death rate in Australia is difficult to break down into a per-minute figure, certain trends and causes of death can be examined to understand the broader context of mortality in the country. For example, cardiovascular disease (CVD) is responsible for one in four deaths in Australia, or one death every 12 minutes.

Characteristics Values
Total Number of Deaths in 2023 183,131
Number of Male Deaths in 2023 96,180
Number of Female Deaths in 2023 86,951
Number of Deaths of Children Aged 0-4 in 2023 <1% of all deaths
Number of Deaths of People Aged 75+ in 2023 68% of all deaths
Number of Deaths Due to Cardiovascular Disease in 2023 43,800 (estimate)
Number of Deaths of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People in 2023 5,256
Number of Deaths of First Nations People in 2023 5,256
Median Age at Death for First Nations People in 2021-2023 63 years
Median Age at Death for Non-Indigenous Australians in 2021-2023 82 years
Number of Deaths by Suicide in Australia per Day 9
Crude Death Rate in 2023 5.1 deaths per 1,000 people
Crude Death Rate for First Nations People in 2021-2023 492 deaths per 100,000 population
Crude Death Rate in 2022 7.30 deaths per 1,000 people

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Leading causes of death by age

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, there were 183,131 deaths in Australia in 2023, a 4.1% decline from 2022. This equates to a death rate of around 5.1 deaths per minute. The leading causes of death in Australia vary by age. Here is a breakdown of the leading causes of death by age:

Infants:

In 2023, perinatal and congenital conditions were the leading causes of death among infants. The infant mortality rate, which refers to the number of deaths of children under 1 year of age per 1,000 live births, decreased by 47 deaths to 911 in 2023.

Children aged 1–14:

Land transport accidents were the most common cause of death among children aged 1–14. Accidental drowning is also a leading cause of death in this age group, especially for humanitarian entrant children, accounting for 28% of deaths.

Young people aged 15–24:

Suicide was the leading cause of death among young people aged 15–24, followed by land transport accidents. Accidental drowning was also a significant cause of death in this age group, particularly for humanitarian entrants.

Adults aged 45 and over:

Chronic diseases, including chronic lower respiratory diseases, were the leading causes of death among adults aged 45 and over. Specifically, for males aged 45 and over, coronary heart disease was the leading cause of death. Dementia, including Alzheimer's disease, was also a significant cause of death in this age group, with a median age of 89.2 years.

First Nations people:

In the period between 2021 and 2023, the leading causes of death for First Nations people in Australia were coronary heart disease, diabetes, and COPD. The median age at death for First Nations people during this period was 63 years, significantly lower than the median age at death for non-Indigenous Australians, which was 82 years.

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First Nations people mortality rate

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, there were 183,131 deaths registered in Australia in 2023. This equates to approximately 3.5 deaths per minute. While this data does not specify the number of First Nations people who died per minute, it provides context for the mortality rate within the country.

First Nations people in Australia have a higher mortality rate than non-Indigenous Australians. In 2023, there were 5,256 registered deaths of First Nations people. This data includes the jurisdictions of New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, and the Northern Territory, which have sufficient Indigenous status identification for reporting. The crude death rate for First Nations people was 492 deaths per 100,000 population. This rate has been falling in most age groups over the past decade, but the age-standardised death rate increased by 4.1%.

The median age at death for First Nations people in the previously mentioned jurisdictions was 62.3 years in 2022, an increase from 57.2 years in 2012. However, the median age at death for non-Indigenous Australians was significantly higher at 82 years between 2021 and 2023. First Nations people are more likely to die at younger ages, with a life expectancy of 71.9 years for males and 75.6 years for females born in 2020-2022. Life expectancy is also impacted by geography, with First Nations people in remote and very remote areas having a lower life expectancy than those in major cities.

The leading causes of death for First Nations people differ from those of non-Indigenous Australians. In the period between 2021 and 2023, the three leading causes of death for First Nations people were coronary heart disease, diabetes, and COPD. Additionally, 58% of deaths of First Nations people under 75 years of age were from potentially avoidable causes. First Nations people died from avoidable causes at 3.3 times the rate of non-Indigenous Australians.

The burden of disease among First Nations people is also higher, with a rate 2.3 times that of non-Indigenous Australians. Social and emotional wellbeing, which is foundational to the health of First Nations people, is influenced by connection to land, culture, spirituality, and ancestry. Inequities in government policies, institutional racism, and the effects of colonisation contribute to the varying experiences of social and emotional wellbeing among First Nations people.

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Cardiovascular disease fatalities

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a group of conditions that affect the heart or blood vessels, including coronary heart disease, heart attack, stroke, and heart failure. It is Australia's leading cause of death, killing one in every four Australians. In 2021, CVD was responsible for 42,700 deaths, accounting for 25% of all deaths in the country. This equates to one death from CVD every 12 minutes, or 118 deaths per day.

CVD disproportionately affects certain demographics in Australia. For instance, Indigenous Australians, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, are almost twice as likely to die from CVD as non-Indigenous Australians. Additionally, those in lower socioeconomic groups and people living in regional and remote areas generally have higher mortality rates from CVD. In 2023, Australians lost an estimated 666,000 years of healthy life due to CVD.

The financial burden of CVD in Australia is significant. CVD costs the Australian health system approximately $12.7 billion annually and accounts for 11% of all hospitalisations. Additionally, stroke alone costs Australia an estimated $6.2 billion each year, with a further $26 billion in mortality and lost wellbeing.

CVD is preventable and treatable, but early symptoms may not always be visible. Risk factors include age, sex, and socioeconomic status. In 2022, 6.7% of adults in Australia (approximately 1.3 million people) had one or more conditions related to CVD. It is important to monitor CVD risk factors and take preventative measures to reduce the likelihood of developing the disease.

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Suicide rates

In 2023, there were 183,131 deaths registered in Australia. Suicide was the leading cause of death among people aged 15–44.

During the 1998–2007 period, New South Wales, Victoria, and the Australian Capital Territory recorded lower rates of male suicide compared to other states, with the Northern Territory exhibiting the highest rate. In contrast, Tasmania and the Northern Territory had significantly higher female suicide rates, while New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory had lower rates. The most common method of suicide during this period was hanging, which increased among both males and females, while shooting, gassing, poisoning, and drowning decreased.

Between 2002 and 2011, Queensland experienced a total of 5,752 suicides, with a significant decrease in rates over this period. The average age-standardised rate was 14.3 per 100,000, with male suicides accounting for 76.9% of the total and occurring at 3.41 times the rate of female suicides. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Queensland had significantly higher suicide rates than other Australians.

While the overall number of suicides in Australia decreased between 1997 and 2007, this may not reflect a decline in suicidal ideation or attempts. The lethality of methods plays a role, with certain methods, like hanging and shooting, resulting in higher mortality rates.

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Crude death rate

The crude death rate is a metric that indicates the number of deaths occurring per 1,000 individuals within a population over a year. In Australia, the crude death rate has decreased by 37% from 1907 to 2023, falling from 1,083 to 687 deaths per 100,000 individuals. This decline is largely attributed to significant reductions in infant and child mortality during this period.

In 2023, there were 183,131 deaths registered in Australia, comprising 96,180 males and 86,951 females. The overall standardised death rate was 5.1 deaths per 1,000 individuals. Notably, less than 1% of all deaths occurred in children aged 0-4 years, while 68% were among individuals aged 75 and older.

Among First Nations people in Australia, the crude death rate for the period 2021-2023 was 492 deaths per 100,000 individuals. During this period, there were 12,947 registered deaths among First Nations people, with 5,256 occurring in 2023 alone. The leading causes of death for First Nations people were coronary heart disease, diabetes, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

It is important to note that crude death rates can vary across different regions within a country. For example, in Australia, crude death rates were highest in inner regional areas (895 deaths per 100,000 population) and lowest in very remote areas (606 per 100,000 population).

Frequently asked questions

On average, around three people die per minute in Australia. This is based on the 2023 statistics, which recorded 183,131 deaths across the year.

There were 5,256 registered deaths of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people in Australia in 2023. This is an increase of 171 deaths from 2022.

The leading causes of death in Australia vary by age. Perinatal and congenital conditions are the leading causes of death among infants. Land transport accidents are the leading cause among children aged 1-14. Suicide is the leading cause of death among people aged 15-44, and chronic diseases cause most deaths among people aged 45 and over.

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