Causes of death statistics 2010

The Australian Bureau of Statistics has just released its publication 3303.0, Causes of Death, Australia 2010.  Causes of death statistics are key to understanding Australian society and health, providing insights into the diseases and factors contributing to reduced life expectancy.

In 2010, there were 143,473 deaths registered in Australia, 2,713 (1.9%) more than the number recorder in 2009.  Males accounted for 51.2% of deaths, and females 48.8%.  Ischaemic heart disease was the leading cause of death, at 15.1%.  It has been the leading cause since 2000