Dementia becomes leading cause of death in Australia

Dementia has become the leading cause of death in Australia, accounting for 10.1 per cent of all deaths in 2025. According to data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the condition was responsible for 19,019 deaths, marking the first time it has surpassed the one-in-ten threshold.

In 2006, dementia was the nation’s fourth leading cause of death, representing only 5 per cent of total deaths. The rise in mortality is attributed to an ageing population. While cardiovascular disease deaths have declined, dementia-related deaths increased by 37.3 per cent between 2016 and 2025.

The impact is disproportionately high among women, who have accounted for 61.1 per cent of dementia-related deaths in 2025. For men, coronary heart disease remains the leading cause of death, though the gap between it and dementia is narrowing.

Tanya Buchanan, CEO of Dementia Australia, stated that the figures highlight a critical need for increased funding and recognition for services, supports, and prevention, noting that investment has not kept pace with the growing impact of the disease.