Latest ABS data confirms dementia as the leading cause of death

The latest Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) report, ‘Causes of Death, Australia’, confirms that dementia is the nation’s leading cause of death — overtaking ischaemic heart diseases.

The report, which has a reference period of 2024, finds that dementia accounted for 9.4% of all deaths, with the number of deaths caused by dementia having increased by 39% over the last decade.

The 2024 data also shows that 62.4% of people who died from dementia were women — dementia having been the leading cause of death for Australian women since 2016.

“There are currently an estimated 433,300 Australians living with dementia and without significant intervention, this number is expected to increase to more than one million by 2065,” Dementia Australia CEO Professor Tanya Buchanan said.

“We need to act on dementia now. At a community level, we need to increase awareness of dementia and brain health, reducing the stigma experienced by so many impacted by dementia.

“Across health, aged, disability and community care sectors, we need to ensure quality dementia care, with palliative care tailored to the needs of people living with dementia, their families and carers at the end of their life.

“Although there are things we cannot change, like getting older or genetics, we now know that up to 45% of dementia cases globally could be prevented or delayed by addressing modifiable risk factors.”

You can read the report here, via the ABS website.

For dementia information and support contact the National Dementia Helpline on 1800 100 500 or visit dementia.org.au.

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