Annual death rates at different ages in Australia
Australia: Annual death rates at different ages was 3.2 deaths per 1,000 people in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
3.2 deaths per 1,000 people
Change on year
down 12.4%
World rank
204th
of 236 countries
All-time high
68.44 deaths per 1,000 people
in 1921
All-time low
3.06 deaths per 1,000 people
in 2016
Years of data
103
1921–2023
Annual death rates at different ages in Australia, 1921–2023
Source: Human Mortality Database (2025); UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths per 1,000 people.
Analysis
Australia recorded 3.2 deaths per 1,000 people for annual death rates at different ages in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 12.4% on the previous year and down 12.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual death rates at different ages in Australia peaked at 68.44 deaths per 1,000 people in 1921 and was at its lowest, 3.06 deaths per 1,000 people, in 2016.
That places Australia 204th out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Annual death rates at different ages in Australia, year by year
| Year | deaths per 1,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1921 | 68.44 deaths per 1,000 people | — |
| 1922 | 54.92 deaths per 1,000 people | -19.8% |
| 1923 | 62.65 deaths per 1,000 people | +14.1% |
| 1924 | 59.43 deaths per 1,000 people | -5.1% |
| 1925 | 55.84 deaths per 1,000 people | -6.0% |
| 1926 | 55.63 deaths per 1,000 people | -0.4% |
| 1927 | 56.83 deaths per 1,000 people | +2.2% |
| 1928 | 55.52 deaths per 1,000 people | -2.3% |
| 1929 | 52.45 deaths per 1,000 people | -5.5% |
| 1930 | 49.29 deaths per 1,000 people | -6.0% |
| 1931 | 42.25 deaths per 1,000 people | -14.3% |
| 1932 | 41.08 deaths per 1,000 people | -2.8% |
| 1933 | 40.94 deaths per 1,000 people | -0.3% |
| 1934 | 44.89 deaths per 1,000 people | +9.6% |
| 1935 | 41.39 deaths per 1,000 people | -7.8% |
| 1936 | 43.34 deaths per 1,000 people | +4.7% |
| 1937 | 39.75 deaths per 1,000 people | -8.3% |
| 1938 | 39.47 deaths per 1,000 people | -0.7% |
| 1939 | 39.65 deaths per 1,000 people | +0.5% |
| 1940 | 40.2 deaths per 1,000 people | +1.4% |
| 1941 | 42.21 deaths per 1,000 people | +5.0% |
| 1942 | 40.78 deaths per 1,000 people | -3.4% |
| 1943 | 39.23 deaths per 1,000 people | -3.8% |
| 1944 | 32.58 deaths per 1,000 people | -17.0% |
| 1945 | 30.76 deaths per 1,000 people | -5.6% |
| 1946 | 31.62 deaths per 1,000 people | +2.8% |
| 1947 | 29.68 deaths per 1,000 people | -6.1% |
| 1948 | 27.95 deaths per 1,000 people | -5.8% |
| 1949 | 26.01 deaths per 1,000 people | -6.9% |
| 1950 | 25.42 deaths per 1,000 people | -2.3% |
| 1951 | 25.71 deaths per 1,000 people | +1.2% |
| 1952 | 24.68 deaths per 1,000 people | -4.0% |
| 1953 | 23.8 deaths per 1,000 people | -3.6% |
| 1954 | 22.76 deaths per 1,000 people | -4.3% |
| 1955 | 22.58 deaths per 1,000 people | -0.8% |
| 1956 | 22.23 deaths per 1,000 people | -1.5% |
| 1957 | 22.22 deaths per 1,000 people | -0.0% |
| 1958 | 20.97 deaths per 1,000 people | -5.6% |
| 1959 | 22 deaths per 1,000 people | +4.9% |
| 1960 | 20.45 deaths per 1,000 people | -7.0% |
| 1961 | 20.18 deaths per 1,000 people | -1.3% |
| 1962 | 20.64 deaths per 1,000 people | +2.3% |
| 1963 | 19.87 deaths per 1,000 people | -3.8% |
| 1964 | 18.99 deaths per 1,000 people | -4.4% |
| 1965 | 18.85 deaths per 1,000 people | -0.7% |
| 1966 | 18.48 deaths per 1,000 people | -2.0% |
| 1967 | 18.33 deaths per 1,000 people | -0.8% |
| 1968 | 18.33 deaths per 1,000 people | +0.1% |
| 1969 | 18.76 deaths per 1,000 people | +2.3% |
| 1970 | 18.86 deaths per 1,000 people | +0.5% |
| 1971 | 18.04 deaths per 1,000 people | -4.4% |
| 1972 | 16.83 deaths per 1,000 people | -6.7% |
| 1973 | 15.95 deaths per 1,000 people | -5.2% |
| 1974 | 15.99 deaths per 1,000 people | +0.3% |
| 1975 | 14.01 deaths per 1,000 people | -12.4% |
| 1976 | 13.73 deaths per 1,000 people | -2.0% |
| 1977 | 12.51 deaths per 1,000 people | -8.9% |
| 1978 | 12.3 deaths per 1,000 people | -1.7% |
| 1979 | 11.2 deaths per 1,000 people | -9.0% |
| 1980 | 10.7 deaths per 1,000 people | -4.4% |
| 1981 | 10.48 deaths per 1,000 people | -2.1% |
| 1982 | 10.2 deaths per 1,000 people | -2.7% |
| 1983 | 9.75 deaths per 1,000 people | -4.4% |
| 1984 | 9.51 deaths per 1,000 people | -2.5% |
| 1985 | 9.92 deaths per 1,000 people | +4.3% |
| 1986 | 8.9 deaths per 1,000 people | -10.3% |
| 1987 | 9.03 deaths per 1,000 people | +1.5% |
| 1988 | 8.26 deaths per 1,000 people | -8.5% |
| 1989 | 8.55 deaths per 1,000 people | +3.5% |
| 1990 | 7.97 deaths per 1,000 people | -6.7% |
| 1991 | 6.9 deaths per 1,000 people | -13.4% |
| 1992 | 6.95 deaths per 1,000 people | +0.6% |
| 1993 | 6.06 deaths per 1,000 people | -12.7% |
| 1994 | 5.98 deaths per 1,000 people | -1.4% |
| 1995 | 5.68 deaths per 1,000 people | -5.0% |
| 1996 | 5.75 deaths per 1,000 people | +1.2% |
| 1997 | 5.53 deaths per 1,000 people | -3.8% |
| 1998 | 5.05 deaths per 1,000 people | -8.8% |
| 1999 | 5.71 deaths per 1,000 people | +13.2% |
| 2000 | 5.11 deaths per 1,000 people | -10.5% |
| 2001 | 5.14 deaths per 1,000 people | +0.5% |
| 2002 | 5.02 deaths per 1,000 people | -2.4% |
| 2003 | 4.86 deaths per 1,000 people | -3.2% |
| 2004 | 4.72 deaths per 1,000 people | -2.8% |
| 2005 | 5.1 deaths per 1,000 people | +8.1% |
| 2006 | 4.82 deaths per 1,000 people | -5.6% |
| 2007 | 4.29 deaths per 1,000 people | -10.9% |
| 2008 | 4.27 deaths per 1,000 people | -0.5% |
| 2009 | 4.15 deaths per 1,000 people | -2.8% |
| 2010 | 4.11 deaths per 1,000 people | -0.9% |
| 2011 | 3.8 deaths per 1,000 people | -7.6% |
| 2012 | 3.34 deaths per 1,000 people | -11.9% |
| 2013 | 3.66 deaths per 1,000 people | +9.5% |
| 2014 | 3.41 deaths per 1,000 people | -7.0% |
| 2015 | 3.13 deaths per 1,000 people | -8.1% |
| 2016 | 3.06 deaths per 1,000 people | -2.2% |
| 2017 | 3.36 deaths per 1,000 people | +9.7% |
| 2018 | 3.15 deaths per 1,000 people | -6.4% |
| 2019 | 3.25 deaths per 1,000 people | +3.1% |
| 2020 | 3.09 deaths per 1,000 people | -4.8% |
| 2021 | 3.38 deaths per 1,000 people | +9.4% |
| 2022 | 3.65 deaths per 1,000 people | +8.1% |
| 2023 | 3.2 deaths per 1,000 people | -12.4% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 3.2 deaths per 1,000 people is below the median for high income countries, which is 4.46 deaths per 1,000 people, 72% of the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Australia's 3.2 deaths per 1,000 people is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 13.27 deaths per 1,000 people, 24% of the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1920s | 57.97 deaths per 1,000 people | 52.45 deaths per 1,000 people | 68.44 deaths per 1,000 people | 9 |
| 1930s | 42.2 deaths per 1,000 people | 39.47 deaths per 1,000 people | 49.29 deaths per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1940s | 34.1 deaths per 1,000 people | 26.01 deaths per 1,000 people | 42.21 deaths per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1950s | 23.24 deaths per 1,000 people | 20.97 deaths per 1,000 people | 25.71 deaths per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1960s | 19.29 deaths per 1,000 people | 18.33 deaths per 1,000 people | 20.64 deaths per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 14.94 deaths per 1,000 people | 11.2 deaths per 1,000 people | 18.86 deaths per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 9.53 deaths per 1,000 people | 8.26 deaths per 1,000 people | 10.7 deaths per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 6.16 deaths per 1,000 people | 5.05 deaths per 1,000 people | 7.97 deaths per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.75 deaths per 1,000 people | 4.15 deaths per 1,000 people | 5.14 deaths per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.43 deaths per 1,000 people | 3.06 deaths per 1,000 people | 4.11 deaths per 1,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.33 deaths per 1,000 people | 3.09 deaths per 1,000 people | 3.65 deaths per 1,000 people | 4 |
Countries ranked near Australia
More health data for Australia
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.83 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.9072 % change on previous year (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 215 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2021)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.45 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0279 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.35 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0295 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual death rates at different ages in Australia?
- Annual death rates at different ages in Australia was 3.2 deaths per 1,000 people in 2023, according to Human Mortality Database (2025); UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual death rates at different ages recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 68.44 deaths per 1,000 people in 1921.
- What is the lowest annual death rates at different ages recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.06 deaths per 1,000 people in 2016.
- How does Australia rank for annual death rates at different ages?
- Australia ranks 204th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is annual death rates at different ages rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 12.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from Human Mortality Database (2025); UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Annual death rates at different ages. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Death rate, calculated as the number of deaths divided by the average number of people alive during the interval.