Dementia accounts for more than 10% of Australian deaths for the first time, ABS data shows

Summary

The Australian Bureau of Statistics has published deaths data showing that dementia, including Alzheimer's disease, accounted for more than 10% of all deaths in Australia for the first time. The ABS recorded 188,421 deaths in 2025, of which 19,019 were caused by dementia, and it has been the leading cause of death in Australia since 2024. The same data shows the number of people dying from asthma is at decade-high levels.

Timeline

1. The Guardian

   27 Oct 2026, 06:40 UTCSource ↗

   The Guardian reports that dementia accounted for more than 10% of all deaths for the first time, and that asthma deaths are at decade-high levels, according to new ABS data showing 188,421 deaths registered in 2025, 19,019 of them from dementia.

2. ABC

   27 Oct 2026, 08:02 UTCSource ↗

   ABC reports that the Australian Bureau of Statistics says dementia has accounted for more than 10 per cent of all Australian deaths for the first time.