SUMMARY RESULTS OF THE CDE STUDY

The number of Census and death registration records eligible for linking and the percentage of death records linked are presented in Table 3.1. The linking process used 153,455 death records and 20,928,304 Census records. These Census counts are different from estimated resident population, as discussed in Chapter 2. Of the 153,455 death records, 142,697 (93.0%) records were linked to one of 20,928,304 eligible Census records. Of the 2,345 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander death records, 1,884 (80.3%) were linked.

3.1 CENSUS AND DEATH RECORDS, Australia
Description		Records
Number
	Census records eligible for linking(a)	20 928 304
	Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Census records	548 370
	Records on death file(b)	153 455
	Death records linked	142 697
	Death records not linked	10 758
	Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander records on death file(c)	2 345
	Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander records linked(c)	1 884
Per cent
	All death records linked	93.0
	Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander death records linked	80.3
(a) Excludes residents temporarily overseas on Census night, imputed records and Census net undercount adjustment.
(b) Deaths which occurred between 10 August 2011 and 27 September 2012.
(c) According to Indigenous status reported on death registration form.

The number and percentage of death records linked to Census records by selected characteristics of deceased persons are presented in Table 3.2. A slightly higher linkage was achieved for females (94.4%) compared with males (91.7%). The linkage rate varied considerably by age, being lowest for 25-44 year old decedents (76.3%). This may be due to the relatively high Census undercount rate in this age group. The linkage rate was highest for 75 years and older decedents (95.1%).

3.2 Death Records Linked to Census Records by Selected Characteristics, Australia
		Total death records	Linked records	Linked records
Reported characteristics in death registration		no.	no.	%
Sex
	Males	78 522	71 994	91.7
	Females	74 933	70 703	94.4
Age (years)
	0-14	599	497	83.0
	15-24	1 211	950	78.5
	25-44	5 246	4 001	76.3
	45-64	20 814	18 297	87.9
	65-74	23 626	21 982	93.0
	75 and over	101 958	96 970	95.1
Indigenous Status
	Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander	2 345	1 884	80.3
	Non-Indigenous	150 238	140 037	93.2
	Not stated	872	776	89.0
State of usual residence
	NSW	53 355	49 419	92.6
	Vic.	37 794	35 399	93.7
	Qld	28 065	25 954	92.5
	SA	13 567	12 874	94.9
	WA	13 683	12 635	92.3
	Tas.	4 285	4 039	94.3
	NT	869	658	75.7
	ACT	1 829	1 711	93.6
Marital status
	Never married	15 081	12 828	85.1
	Married	61 940	58 566	94.6
	Widow	56 864	53 977	94.9
	Divorced	14 275	12 835	89.9
	Separated	1 294	1 123	86.8
	Not applicable (<15 years)	4 001	3 368	84.2
Elapsed time between Census and death
	Within 6 months of Census	85 192	78 972	92.7
	Beyond 6 months of Census	68 263	63 725	93.4

The linkage success varied by Indigenous status recorded on the death registration form. People of non-Indigenous origin on the death registration form had a considerably increased linkage success (93.2%) compared with people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander origin (80.3%). The linkage success also varied by state of usual residence as reported on the death registration form. Rates were highest for South Australia (94.9%) and lowest for the Northern Territory (75.7%). All other states and territories had linkage rates between 92.3% and 94.3%. The low linkage rate for the Northern Territory reflects relatively low linkage rates for both the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous populations. The linkage rate was similar for married and widowed persons (about 95%). The linkage rate was slightly lower for deaths which occurred within six months of the Census (92.7%) than those which occurred beyond 6 months after the Census (93.4%).

Other aspects of the CDE Indigenous Mortality Study data were analysed by the ABS and results released in Information Paper: Death Registrations to Census Linkage Project - Methodology and Quality Assessment, Australia, 2011-2012 (cat. no. 3302.0.55.004) on 28 August 2013 and Information Paper: Death Registrations to Census Linkage Project - Key Findings for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, 2011-2012 (cat. no. 3302.0.55.005) on 15 November 2013.

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