Causes of death

• 33,575 deaths occurred by 31 March 2021 and were registered by 31 May.
• Numbers of deaths were above historical averages for each month of 2021. 
• Numbers of deaths due to cancer, dementia and diabetes were above historical averages.

• Ischaemic heart disease was the leading cause of death, accounting for 10.8% of all deaths.
• Dementia overtook lung cancer as the 2nd leading cause of death for males.
• Intentional self-harm death rate was 12.9 per 100,000 people.
• Chronic lower respiratory disease is now the second leading cause of death of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, overtaking Diabetes.

Statistics on doctor certified death registrations