--- title: "Leading Causes of Death in Australia 2019 | Australia Wide First Aid" description: "Five diseases caused more than one-third of all deaths (35.6%) in Australia in 2019. But the way Australians are living and dying is changing. Coronary heart disease, which in 1968, was responsible for almost a third of all deaths, has been declining since." canonical: "https://www.australiawidefirstaid.com/resources/leading-causes-of-death-2019" --- # Leading Causes of Death in Australia 2019 [Resources](https://www.australiawidefirstaid.com/resources) › [Health Statistics](https://www.australiawidefirstaid.com/resources?genre=health-statistics) Health Statistics The way Australians are living and dying has changed considerably over recent decades. Awareness of these changing patterns allows for a better understanding of the population’s health and for improved consideration of individual health and lifestyle choices. ## How many Australians die each year? - In 2019 there were 169,301 registered deaths in Australia, an increase of 6.8% (10,808) from 2018. - 52.2% of deaths were male (88,346) and 47.8% were female (80,955). ## What are the leading causes of death in Australia? In 2019: - The leading cause of death was *coronary heart disease* accounting for 10.8% of all deaths (18,244). *Dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease*, was the 2nd leading cause of death accounting for 8.9% of all deaths (15,016). - *Cerebrovascular**diseases*, such as *stroke*, were the 3rd leading cause of all deaths accounting for 5.8% (9,891 deaths). - *Cancer of the trachea, bronchus and lung* was the 4th leading cause of all deaths accounting for 5.2% (8,821 deaths). - *Chronic lower respiratory diseases* including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchitis, emphysema and asthma rounded out the top five leading causes accounting for 4.9% of all deaths (8,372). - *Influenza and pneumonia* were the 9th leading cause of all deaths (4,124) in 2019, a 33% increase from 2018. - *Suicide* was the 13th leading cause of death, with the lowest median age at death at 43.9. ## Changes in standardised death rate (SDR) From 2010 to 2019 the standardised death rate (SDR) for: - *coronary heart disease* decreased by 34.6% - *dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease* increased by 27.2% - *cerebrovascular diseases*, such as *stroke*decreased by 31.5% - *cancer of the trachea, bronchus and lung*decreased by 15.8% - *chronic lower respiratory diseases*increased by 5.3% - *suicides*increased by 15.2% ## Coronary heart disease [*Coronary heart disease*](https://www.australiawidefirstaid.com.au/resources/types-of-heart-disease#coronary) has been the leading cause of all deaths for over half a century. It reached its peak in 1968 when it was responsible for almost one-third of all deaths, and has been declining since. ## Related resources - [Leading Causes of Death: Males vs Females](https://www.australiawidefirstaid.com.au/resources/leading-causes-of-death-males-females) - [Life Expectancy Statistics - Australia](https://www.australiawidefirstaid.com.au/resources/life-expectancy-australia) ## Sources - [ABS](https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/health/causes-death/causes-death-australia/latest-release): *Causes of Death, Australia* (release: 2020) - [ABS](https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/health/causes-death/changing-patterns-mortality-australia/latest-release): *Changing Patterns of Mortality in Australia, 1968-2017* - [ABS](https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/population/deaths-australia/latest-release): *Deaths, Australia* (release: 2020) ## Similar articles - [Shark Attacks Australia 2022](https://www.australiawidefirstaid.com/resources/shark-attacks-australia-2022): Home to some of the world's most dangerous shark species, Australia is one of the deadliest countries when it comes to human/shark incidents. In this article, we explore the number and outcome of shark/human incidents that occurred in Australia in 2022, to date. - [Leading Causes of Death in Australia 2021](https://www.australiawidefirstaid.com/resources/leading-causes-of-death-australia-2021): Five diseases accounted for more than one-third of all deaths registered in Australia in 2021. And though our overall mortality rate remains low, Dementia is narrowing the gap to become one of Australia's deadliest diseases. - [Leading Causes of Death in Australia: 2019 vs 2020](https://www.australiawidefirstaid.com/resources/leading-causes-of-death): Health statistics are an invaluable tool for measuring the health of Australians and targeting prevention and treatment resources accordingly. In this article, we compare Australia's mortality rating from 2019 to 2020. ## Learn this hands-on Reading is a start — a nationally accredited course makes it stick. [Find a course and check live session availability](https://www.australiawidefirstaid.com/#find-course). --- **Australia Wide First Aid** · RTO 31961 - Phone: (07) 3437 7500 - Email: info@australiawidefirstaid.com.au - Hours: Mon – Fri 7am – 7pm (AEST)