In a significant shift for the nation's health landscape, dementia has surpassed heart disease to become the leading cause of death in Australia. New data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics paints a sobering picture of the degenerative brain condition's devastating impact.
A National Health Milestone
The latest ABS mortality figures reveal that 17,500 Australians died from dementia-related conditions last year. This represents a pivotal change in the country's mortality patterns, with dementia now accounting for 9.4 per cent of all deaths across the nation.
Lauren Moran, ABS head of mortality statistics, explained the demographic factors behind this shift. "People are now more likely to live to an age where they have a higher risk of developing dementia," Moran said. "This is especially true for women who have longer life expectancies."
Gender Disparity and Regional Differences
The data reveals a stark gender divide in dementia's impact. 62.4 per cent of people who died from dementia were women, and the condition has been the leading cause of death for women since 2016. Those who died from dementia had an average age of 88, highlighting the condition's prevalence among Australia's ageing population.
While dementia now leads overall, coronary heart disease remains the leading cause of death for men, causing 10,153 deaths in 2024. The statistics also show geographic variations, with heart disease remaining the leading cause of death in outer regional, remote and very remote Australia.
Implications for Australia's Future
This milestone represents a major change from previous decades when heart disease consistently held the top position. The growing burden of dementia on families and the healthcare system underscores the urgent need for continued research into prevention and treatment strategies.
As Australia's population continues to age, these statistics highlight the critical importance of addressing dementia as a national health priority. The data serves as a powerful reminder of the condition's far-reaching consequences for Australian society.
