Health & MedicineDeveloping

Dementia accounts for more than one in 10 Australian deaths for first time

ABS data shows mortality rates back to pre-COVID trend, asthma deaths at decade high and Indigenous suicides at record level

By LineZotpaper AI staff

Published27 October 2026

Updated27 October 2026

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Dementia, including Alzheimer's disease, accounted for more than 10 per cent of all deaths in Australia for the first time, new Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data shows. The figures, released on Tuesday, also show overall mortality rates have returned to their pre-COVID trend, asthma deaths hit a decade high and drug-induced deaths rose.

There were 188,421 deaths registered in Australia in 2025. Of these, 19,019 were caused by dementia, including Alzheimer's disease. ABS head of mortality statistics Lauren Moran said this was the first time dementia had accounted for more than 10 per cent of all deaths.

Dementia has been the leading cause of death in Australia since 2024 and the most deadly condition among women for the last 10 years. Dementia Australia chief executive Professor Tanya Buchanan said the data underlined the critical need for more recognition and funding for people living with dementia, their families and carers. An estimated 446,500 Australians are living with dementia, with a further 1.7 million people involved in their care.

The second leading cause of death was ischaemic heart disease, accounting for about 8 per cent of deaths, and the lowest figure for that condition since 1968. Australia's age-standardised death rate fell for both men and women in 2025, returning to pre-COVID-19 levels. Moran said the COVID-19 pandemic had temporarily disrupted the long-term pattern of declining death rates, which had now resumed. The median age of death was 81.9 years.

The data also revealed the highest number of asthma deaths recorded in a decade: 484 in 2025, up from 478 in 2024. Women account for almost two-thirds of asthma deaths and almost two-thirds of all dementia deaths. Asthma Australia chief executive Kate Miranda said poorly controlled asthma increases risk and is a preventable reason behind many asthma-related deaths, with guidelines having shifted to recommend anti-inflammatory reliever therapy.

A total of 3,283 people died by suicide in 2025, a slight decrease on the previous year, with men accounting for 73.9 per cent of those deaths. Male suicide fell to its lowest level since 2016, though suicide remained the leading cause of premature death for both males and females. There were 320 registered deaths by suicide among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, the highest in the ABS time series, with the rise sharpest among Indigenous women. Drug-induced deaths rose to 2,063 from 2,007 the previous year, with stimulant-related deaths growing from 504 in 2021 to 779 in 2025.

The age-standardised death rate for Indigenous Australians rose by 5.2 per cent in 2025, and ischaemic heart disease remained their leading cause of death. The ABS noted the data is preliminary and expected to change as coronial investigations are finalised.

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Analysis

Why This Matters

Dementia has become the first single cause to account for more than one in 10 Australian deaths and is now the leading cause of death, with implications for health funding and aged care.
Asthma deaths are at a decade high despite effective treatments, pointing to gaps in care, particularly for women and older Australians.
Overall mortality rates have returned to their pre-COVID trend, marking the end of the pandemic's short-term disruption to Australian death patterns.

Background

The ABS deaths data for 2025 is preliminary and is expected to change as coronial investigations are finalised. Australia's death rate had been on a long-term declining trend before the COVID-19 pandemic temporarily disrupted it, and the new figures indicate a return to that trend. With an ageing population, the ABS noted the number of deaths is likely to increase over time even as the rate relative to population size declines.

Key Perspectives

Prof Tanya Buchanan (Dementia Australia): says the data underlines the critical need for more recognition and funding for people living with dementia, their families and carers, adding that stigma surrounding dementia continues. Kate Miranda (Asthma Australia): says poorly controlled asthma is a preventable reason behind many asthma-related deaths, and that too many Australians are not getting the care they need, with guidelines now recommending anti-inflammatory reliever therapy. Lauren Moran (ABS): says the COVID-19 pandemic temporarily disrupted Australia's pattern of declining mortality rates, which are now returning to the long-term trend. Liz Allen (ANU): says Australia is an aged society rather than an aging one, where deaths will soon outnumber births, so causes of death are dominated by conditions such as dementia. Chris Stone (Suicide Prevention Australia): says there are reasons to be optimistic about men's suicide rates but more action is needed to bring the number down substantially.

What to Watch

The ABS has flagged the data is preliminary and will change as coronial investigations are finalised, so suicide and drug death figures may be revised.
Whether the rise in drug-induced deaths involving stimulants, including methamphetamine, continues.
Whether dementia funding and services keep pace with the condition's growing share of deaths, which Buchanan said has not happened so far.

Sources

Dementia deaths in Australia surpass one in 10 of all fatalities · ABC News
Asthma deaths reach decade-high levels and number of Australians dying of dementia grows · The Guardian
Asthma deaths reach decade-high levels and number of Australians dying of dementia grows · The Guardian
The 'growing' health threat now responsible for one in 10 Australian deaths · SBS News

Checked

12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 10 supported.

Show each claim

SupportedAsthma deaths were at a decade high.World news | The Guardian: “The data also revealed the highest number of asthma deaths recorded in a decade.”
SupportedDementia accounted for more than 10% of deaths for the first time.World news | The Guardian: “Dementia has accounted for more than 10% of all deaths for the first time”
SupportedThere were 19,019 dementia deaths among 188,421 total deaths in 2025.World news | The Guardian: “There were 188,421 deaths registered in 2025. Of these, 19,019 deaths were caused by dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease.”
SupportedDementia has been Australia’s leading cause of death since 2024.World news | The Guardian: “It has been the leading cause of death in Australia since 2024 .”
SupportedAsthma deaths rose to 484 in 2025 from 478 in 2024.World news | The Guardian: “There were 484 Australians who died from asthma in 2025, up from 478 deaths in 2024.”
SupportedDrug-induced deaths rose to 2,063 from 2,007 in 2024.World news | The Guardian: “Drug-induced deaths also remained a public health issue in 2025, rising to 2,063 deaths from 2,007 deaths in 2024.”
SupportedBuchanan said: “Despite the growing impact of dementia, investment in specific services, supports and prevention have not kept the same pace, and the stigma that surrounds dementia continues.”World news | The Guardian: ““Despite the growing impact of dementia, investment in specific services, supports and prevention have not kept the same pace, and the stigma that surrounds dementia continues,” she said.”
Partly supportedMiranda said poorly controlled asthma is preventable but many Australians are not getting needed care.World news | The Guardian: “Asthma Australia’s CEO, Kate Miranda, said poorly controlled asthma increases the risk and is a preventable reason behind many asthma-related deaths.”
SupportedMiranda said: “We have effective treatments and clear clinical guidelines, yet too many Australians are not getting the care they need to stay well.”World news | The Guardian: ““We have effective treatments and clear clinical guidelines, yet too many Australians are not getting the care they need to stay well,” she said.”
Partly supportedResearch shows both that many adults use little or no preventer treatment and that inhaled-corticosteroid adherence is worsening.World news | The Guardian: “Research has found the proportion of adults with well-controlled asthma has been falling, with many using little or no preventer treatment. Adherence among those using inhaled corticosteroids was also worsening, Miranda said.”
SupportedMiranda said: “People, especially older Australians, are still using medications they had as a child without being aware guidelines have changed and better options exist.”World news | The Guardian: ““People, especially older Australians, are still using medications they had as a child without being aware guidelines have changed and better options exist,” Miranda said.”
SupportedSuicide remained the leading cause of premature death for both males and females in 2025, and men accounted for almost three-quarters of those deaths.World news | The Guardian: “Suicide remained the leading cause of premature death for both males and females in 2025, with men accounting for almost three-quarters of these deaths.”