Canberra [Australia], November 15 (ANI/WAM): Dementia emerged as the leading cause of death in Australia in 2024, marking the first time it has topped the list of fatal conditions in the country, according to official data released on Friday.
Figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) show that dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, surpassed ischaemic heart disease as Australia’s biggest killer last year. Of the 187,268 deaths registered in 2024, a total of 17,549 were attributed to dementia.
Deaths caused by dementia have risen by more than 160 per cent since 2006, when 6,550 such fatalities were recorded. In contrast, deaths from heart disease have dropped by 29.6 per cent over the same period, falling from 23,132 in 2006 to 16,275 in 2024.
The ABS noted that Australia’s ageing population is a major factor behind the rise in dementia-related deaths. In 2024, 68.2 per cent of all deaths occurred among people aged over 75, up from 63.3 per cent in 2004.
A report from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare released in September projected that the number of Australians living with dementia will increase from 425,000 in 2024 to more than one million by 2065.
Chronic lower respiratory diseases were the third-most common cause of death in 2024, followed by cerebrovascular diseases and lung cancer. (ANI/WAM)
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