Key Takeaways
- Alzheimer’s disease has become Australia’s leading cause of death in 2024, surpassing heart disease
- Dementia caused 17,549 deaths, a 160% increase since 2006
- 85.2% of dementia deaths occurred in people aged 75+ years
- Women accounted for 62.4% of dementia-related fatalities
Alzheimer’s disease has overtaken heart disease to become Australia’s number one cause of death in 2024, according to official data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Dementia claimed 17,549 lives last year, marking a significant shift in the country’s mortality patterns.
Rising Dementia Mortality Rates
The ABS data reveals alarming growth in dementia-related deaths. Compared to 2006 figures, dementia fatalities have surged by more than 160% from 6,550 cases. The disease has shown a 39% mortality increase over the past decade alone.
Age remains a critical factor, with 85.2% of dementia deaths occurring among Australians aged 75 years and above. This represents a 63.3% increase since 2004, totaling 16,620 deaths in this age group last year.
Gender Disparities and Future Projections
Women bear a disproportionate burden, accounting for 62.4% of dementia-related deaths. Dementia has been the leading cause of death for Australian women since 2016, primarily due to longer life expectancy.
Future projections from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare indicate the situation will worsen. Their September 2025 report estimates dementia cases will skyrocket from 425,000 in 2024 to reach 1 million by 2065.
Comorbidities and Regional Variations
ABS officials noted that dementia often coexists with other serious conditions. “Approximately 80 per cent of people who died from dementia had other diseases and conditions listed on their death certificate,” the survey found. Common comorbidities include coronary heart disease, hypertension, and some cancers.
The ranking of leading causes of death varies significantly by geographic remoteness. “Dementia is the leading cause in major cities and inner regional areas, but in those outer regional, remote and very remote areas, it’s actually the ischaemic heart diseases,” ABS revealed, highlighting healthcare accessibility issues.
Other Leading Causes of Death
Following dementia, Australia’s other top mortality causes include:
- Ischaemic heart disease: Over 16,000 deaths
- Chronic lower respiratory diseases: 9,229 deaths
- Cerebrovascular diseases: 9,147 deaths
- Mental and behavioural disorders: Nearly 9,000 deaths
