New data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has revealed a sobering shift in Australia’s health landscape: dementia (including Alzheimer’s disease) is now the country’s leading cause of death, overtaking heart disease.
In 2024, dementia accounted for 9.4 per cent of all deaths, and over the past decade, deaths linked to the condition have surged by 39 per cent. Women continue to bear the greatest burden, making up 62.4 per cent of dementia deaths — a trend that has been consistent since 2016. Constrastingly, the leading cause of death for men was heart disease (10,153 deaths), and dementia comes second. However, the ratio between dementia and heart disease death rates among men is narrowing.
Professor Tanya Buchanan, CEO of Dementia Australia, says the figures highlight the urgent need for action on brain health.
“There are currently an estimated 433,300 Australians living with dementia. Without significant intervention, this number could rise to more than one million by 2065,” Professor Buchanan explained. “We need to act now — both to support those living with dementia and their families, and to invest in strategies that reduce dementia risk across the population.”
Dementia Australia stresses that while age and genetics are factors we cannot change, up to 45 per cent of dementia cases globally could be prevented or delayed by addressing lifestyle and health risk factors. Raising awareness, reducing stigma, and improving quality care — including tailored palliative care — are all key steps in supporting Australians affected by dementia.
The ABS findings echo recent research from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), which also named dementia as Australia’s leading cause of death in its September 2025 report.
