The data reveals a striking long-term shift: dementia-related deaths have risen by more than 160 per cent since 2006
Dementia has become Australia’s leading cause of death for the first time on record, overtaking ischaemic heart disease and marking a major shift in national health trends, according to new data released on Friday.
Figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) show that of the 187,268 deaths registered across the country in 2024, 17,549 were caused by dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease. This historic change comes after decades during which heart disease remained Australia’s deadliest condition.
The data reveals a striking long-term shift: dementia-related deaths have risen by more than 160 per cent since 2006, when 6,550 such deaths were recorded. Over the same period, deaths from ischaemic heart disease fell by 29.6 per cent, dropping from 23,132 in 2006 to 16,275 in 2024.
The ABS attributes the rise in dementia deaths largely to Australia’s ageing population. People aged over 75 accounted for 68.2 per cent of all deaths in 2024, compared with 63.3 per cent in 2004. As life expectancy rises, age-related conditions such as dementia are becoming increasingly prevalent and fatal.
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), in its updated Dementia in Australia report, has projected a steep increase in the number of Australians living with dementia in the coming decades. The current estimate of 425,000 people in 2024 is expected to surge to 1.1 million by 2065, more than doubling the national burden.
Women continue to outnumber men among those affected. In 2024, an estimated 266,000 women and 159,000 men were living with dementia. By 2065, those numbers are forecast to climb to 662,000 women and 390,000 men. Longer female life expectancy remains a key factor behind the gender disparity.
The condition also remained the leading cause of death in Australia in 2023, accounting for around 17,400 deaths, including 10,900 women and 6,500 men, according to the AIHW report. The findings reinforce dementia’s significant and growing toll, particularly on older women.
Dementia Australia CEO Tanya Buchanan said the latest evidence highlights the enormous impact dementia has on families nationwide. The report’s release coincides with preparations for Dementia Action Week to be held from September 15 to 21, aimed at increasing awareness, early diagnosis and community support.
Carers continue to shoulder a substantial burden. The AIHW notes that in 2022, about 42 per cent of primary carers for people with dementia provided at least 60 hours of unpaid care per week. With cases expected to climb sharply, pressure on carers and support services is predicted to intensify unless significant investments are made in aged care and community assistance.
Dementia is not a single disease but an umbrella term for a group of symptoms caused by disorders that damage brain cells. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type, followed by vascular, Lewy body and other forms. The condition affects memory, reasoning, mood, language and behaviour, and symptoms become severe enough to interfere with daily life.
While memory loss is a commonly recognised sign, other symptoms include difficulty with language, changes in personality, loss of coordination, and trouble completing routine tasks. Dementia is not considered a normal part of ageing, though age remains the strongest risk factor. Around 5 to 8 per cent of people aged over 65 live with some form of dementia, and the prevalence doubles every five years. Up to half of all people aged 85 and older are estimated to have dementia.
The ABS report further shows that chronic lower respiratory diseases ranked as the third-most common cause of death in Australia in 2024, followed by cerebrovascular diseases and lung cancers. These conditions continue to feature prominently in national mortality statistics.
As the country prepares for a future in which more than a million Australians are expected to live with dementia, experts and advocacy groups are urging sustained investment in medical research, aged care reform, early detection strategies, and comprehensive support services. Without long-term planning and community awareness, Australia faces a deepening public health challenge that will reshape its health and care systems for decades to come.
