Share of deaths from major causes in Australia
Australia: Share of deaths from major causes was 4.23 in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
4.23
Change on year
up 2.0%
World rank
44th
of 113 countries
All-time high
4.23
in 2024
All-time low
2.27
in 1967
Years of data
74
1950–2024
Share of deaths from major causes in Australia, 1950–2024
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of deaths from major causes in Australia is 4.23, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 74 years on record.
That represents a change of up 2.0% on the previous year and up 19.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of deaths from major causes in Australia peaked at 4.23 in 2024 and was at its lowest, 2.27, in 1967.
That places Australia 44th out of 113 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 74 years of available data.
Share of deaths from major causes in Australia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 3.25 | — |
| 1951 | 3.07 | -5.5% |
| 1952 | 2.97 | -3.5% |
| 1953 | 3 | +1.1% |
| 1954 | 3.04 | +1.4% |
| 1955 | 3.12 | +2.6% |
| 1956 | 2.95 | -5.5% |
| 1957 | 3 | +1.6% |
| 1958 | 3.1 | +3.4% |
| 1959 | 2.87 | -7.3% |
| 1960 | 2.77 | -3.5% |
| 1961 | 2.73 | -1.6% |
| 1962 | 2.6 | -4.8% |
| 1963 | 2.44 | -6.2% |
| 1964 | 2.48 | +2.0% |
| 1965 | 2.42 | -2.4% |
| 1966 | 2.36 | -2.5% |
| 1967 | 2.27 | -4.0% |
| 1968 | 2.35 | +3.6% |
| 1969 | 2.33 | -0.8% |
| 1970 | 2.34 | +0.1% |
| 1971 | 2.29 | -1.9% |
| 1972 | 2.44 | +6.6% |
| 1973 | 2.62 | +7.1% |
| 1974 | 2.6 | -0.8% |
| 1975 | 2.72 | +4.8% |
| 1976 | 2.73 | +0.4% |
| 1977 | 2.85 | +4.3% |
| 1978 | 2.78 | -2.6% |
| 1979 | 3.09 | +11.4% |
| 1980 | 3.31 | +7.1% |
| 1981 | 3.27 | -1.2% |
| 1982 | 3.42 | +4.5% |
| 1983 | 3.29 | -3.6% |
| 1984 | 3.32 | +0.9% |
| 1985 | 3.33 | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 3.45 | +3.7% |
| 1987 | 3.42 | -0.8% |
| 1988 | 3.49 | +2.1% |
| 1989 | 3.4 | -2.7% |
| 1990 | 3.38 | -0.5% |
| 1991 | 3.42 | +1.2% |
| 1992 | 3.18 | -7.0% |
| 1993 | 3.09 | -2.8% |
| 1994 | 3.04 | -1.6% |
| 1995 | 3.02 | -0.8% |
| 1996 | 3.02 | +0.1% |
| 1997 | 3.06 | +1.2% |
| 1998 | 3.14 | +2.7% |
| 1999 | 3.28 | +4.5% |
| 2000 | 3.21 | -2.2% |
| 2001 | 3.14 | -2.2% |
| 2002 | 3.36 | +7.0% |
| 2003 | 3.4 | +1.1% |
| 2004 | 3.41 | +0.3% |
| 2006 | 3.37 | -1.2% |
| 2007 | 3.47 | +2.9% |
| 2008 | 3.44 | -0.7% |
| 2009 | 3.54 | +3.0% |
| 2010 | 3.56 | +0.4% |
| 2011 | 3.53 | -0.9% |
| 2012 | 3.55 | +0.7% |
| 2013 | 3.66 | +3.0% |
| 2014 | 3.55 | -2.9% |
| 2015 | 3.58 | +0.8% |
| 2016 | 3.63 | +1.3% |
| 2017 | 3.67 | +1.2% |
| 2018 | 3.74 | +2.0% |
| 2019 | 3.79 | +1.3% |
| 2020 | 4.03 | +6.5% |
| 2021 | 4.15 | +2.8% |
| 2022 | 4.02 | -3.2% |
| 2023 | 4.15 | +3.3% |
| 2024 | 4.23 | +2.0% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 4.23 is above the median for high income countries, which is 3.86, 1.1× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Australia's 4.23 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 3.62, 1.2× the median. (12 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 3.04 | 2.87 | 3.25 | 10 |
| 1960s | 2.48 | 2.27 | 2.77 | 10 |
| 1970s | 2.65 | 2.29 | 3.09 | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.37 | 3.27 | 3.49 | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.16 | 3.02 | 3.42 | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.37 | 3.14 | 3.54 | 9 |
| 2010s | 3.63 | 3.53 | 3.79 | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.12 | 4.02 | 4.23 | 5 |
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)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 215 (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 share of deaths from major causes in Australia?
- Share of deaths from major causes in Australia was 4.23 in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of deaths from major causes recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 4.23 in 2024.
- What is the lowest share of deaths from major causes recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.27 in 1967.
- How does Australia rank for share of deaths from major causes?
- Australia ranks 44th out of 113 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of deaths from major causes rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 19.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Share of deaths from major causes. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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