Dementia causes over 10% of Australian deaths

Dementia, including Alzheimer's disease, caused 19,019 deaths in Australia during 2025, accounting for just over 10% of all national fatalities.

This marks the first time dementia has surpassed the 10% threshold, effectively doubling its 5% share of total deaths recorded back in 2006.

"This is the first time that dementia has accounted for more than 10% of all deaths in Australia and is almost double its share in 2006, when dementia was the fourth leading cause of death at 5% of all deaths," said Australian Bureau of Statistics Head of Mortality Statistics Lauren Moran.

The data revealed that female dementia deaths reached 11,628 in 2025, representing 61.1% of all dementia fatalities and nearly doubling female deaths from heart disease.

Despite the rise in dementia cases, Australia's overall age-standardised death rate for males fell to a record low of 581.3 deaths per 100,000 people in 2025.

Drug-induced deaths continued their upward trend across the country, rising from 2,007 fatalities in 2024 to 2,063 fatalities in 2025.

Meanwhile, suicide remained the leading cause of premature death nationwide, claiming 3,283 lives at a median age of 45 years, with males accounting for almost three-quarters of those total deaths.