3302.0 - Deaths, Australia, 2000  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 11/12/2001   
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  • We're living longer than ever before say the statistics (Media Release)

MEDIA RELEASE

December 11, 2001
Embargoed: 11:30 AM (AEST)
141/2001

We're living longer than ever before say the statistics

New figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics show that a reduced overall rate of deaths from cancer and heart disease have helped push the life expectancy of an Australian baby born today to an all time high of 77 years for males and 82 years for females.

For the community as a whole, the death rate in 2000 has fallen by 3% since 1999 and by 34% since 1980. The increase of life expectancy at birth to 77 years for males and 82 years for females is 6 years higher for males and 4 years higher for females than in 1980.

The comparative life expectancy for Indigenous Australians is 56 years for males and 63 years for females.

Of the 128,300 deaths registered in 2000, malignant neoplasms (cancer) and ischaemic heart disease accounted for almost half (28% and 21% respectively) of the total. Over the last ten years the death rate due to ischaemic heart disease has declined by 39%.

Since 1990, the overall death rate due to cancer declined by 10%, reflecting the similar sized decreases in the two leading cancers, cancer of the digestive organs and cancer of the trachea, bronchus and lung. Although cancer of the trachea, bronchus and lung declined by 10% in this period, the male rate declined by 20% while the female rate increased by 14%.

Suicides accounted for just under 2% of all deaths in 2000, with 2,360 suicide deaths, down 5% from the 1999 level. The rate of suicide in 2000 was similar to the level in 1990, with the male rate around four times higher than the female rate throughout the decade. Suicide death rates were highest among the 25-34 and 35-44 year age groups.

Life expectancy at birth for males and females varied across the regions of Australia by up to 11 years. Male life expectancy at birth was highest in Canberra (79 years) followed by Outer Adelaide, Melbourne and Perth (each 78 years). Female life expectancy was highest at 83 years in Lower Great Southern (Western Australia), Midlands (Western Australia), Perth (Western Australia) and Moreton (Queensland). Both male and female life expectancy were lowest in the Northern Territory outside Darwin (69 years and 73 years respectively) and the Kimberley (69 years and 76 years).


Detailed data is in the ABS publications Deaths, Australia 2000 (cat. no. 3302.0) and Causes of Death, Australia 2000 (cat. no. 3303.0) released today and are available on this site. Summaries of Deaths, Australia 2000 (cat. no. 3302.0) and Causes of Death, Australia 2000. (cat. no. 3303.0) are also available. If you wish to purchase a copy of this publication contact the ABS Bookshop in your capital city.

Key Fact Summary to help with Media Release

Life expectancy at birth by State and Territory

STATE
YEARS
Males Australian Capital Territory
78.3
Victoria
77.1
Western Australia
76.9
South Australia
76.6
Queensland
76.4
New South Wales
76.4
Tasmania
75.7
Northern Territory
70.3
Australia
76.6

Females Western Australia
82.6
Victoria
82.3
South Australia
82.3
Australian Capital Territory
82.3
Queensland
81.9
New South Wales
81.9
Tasmania
81.2
Northern Territory
75.2
Australia
82.0


Highest life expectancies at birth by Statistical Division


MalesStatistical Division (a)State
Years
Canberra Australian Capital Territory
78.6
Outer Adelaide (a) South Australia
78.0
Melbourne Victoria
77.7
Perth Western Australia
77.5
Sydney New South Wales
77.2

FemalesStatistical Division (a)State
Years
Lower Great Southern (b) Western Australia
83.3
Midlands (c) Western Australia
82.9
Perth Western Australia
82.8
Moreton (d) Queensland
82.7
Canberra Australian Capital Territory
82.6


Lowest life expectancies at birth by Statistical Division


MalesStatistical Division (a)State
Years
Northern Territory-Balance (e) Northern Territory
68.5
Kimberley(f) Western Australia
68.6
North-West (g) Queensland
72.1
South-West (h) Queensland
73.3
Far West (i) New South Wales
73.5

FemalesStatistical Division (a)State
Years
Northern Territory-Balance Northern Territory
72.7
Kimberley Western Australia
75.8
North-West Queensland
77.9
Darwin Northern Territory
78.0
North-Western (j) New South Wales
79.6

(a) Further information concerning statistical areas is contained in Australian Standard Geographical Classification (ASGC), 2000 (cat. no. 1216.0).